This is the time of the year when, if you complain about there being nothing to do in Blytheville, you're just not paying attention.
Indeed, for the next several weekends, the community events are lined up, ripe for the picking for anyone who wants to take advantage of what their community has to offer.
A few of the highlights:
THIS WEEKEND
— "The Velveteen Rabbit," will be performed at 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday nights and at at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Ritz Theater. The Act 2! community theater production features an all-local cast. Admission is $5, with those under 5 are free. (As a matter of disclaimer, I should note that both of my children are among the cast.)
— The Fifth Annual Air Base Reunion will be held all weekend long. Anyone who worked on the air base at any time is invited. For more, call 870-762-6319.
— Fall Litter Pickups are being coordinated for this Saturday by Mississippi County and the city of Gosnell. The county landfill will be open from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., and the city of Gosnell will have two dumpsters on the Community Center parking lot.
— The Miss Northeast Arkansas Pageant and the Northeast Arkansas’ Outstanding Teen pageants will be held Saturday at Blytheville High School. The pageants are open to the public.
OCT. 2
— The K-9 Kapers Dog Show will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Blytheville, beginning at 10:30 a.m. There will be categories for small, medium and large dogs, as well as a bake sale and other food items. Proceeds benefit community needs and local and global mission work.
— "Fowl Play At The Gilded Cage Lounge," a murder-mystery event, will be presented from 6-10 p.m. that night at the Holiday Inn in Blytheville. The Fourth Annual Murder Mystery Gala will benefit the Northeast Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross. For more, call 763-4481.
— "Tales of Terror!," a radio play by Sarah Jackson, based on the short stories of Edgar Allen Poe, will be presented at 7 p.m. that night at the Ritz Civic Center. The play is a production of the Act 2! community theater group.
OCT. 7-9
— The 20th Annual Cotton Festival will be held in Gosnell. The festivities kick off Thursday, Oct. 7, with the Little Mr. and Miss Cotton Festival Pageant at 7 p.m. in the Gosnell High School Auditorium. Registration is $30, and fees must be in by Oct. 5. Participants should dress like they're going to the cotton field. Events for Friday, Oct. 8 will begin at 6 p.m., and will include live entertainment, food and crafts. Saturday, Oct. 9 will feature live entertainment, food, crafts, rides for kids, a car show and a tractor pull, with events kicking off at 10 a.m. For more, call Gosnell City Hall at 870-532-8544.
OCT. 16
— The 30th Annual Championship Chili Cook-Off will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. that day in downtown Blytheville. The cook-off is sponsored by the United Way of Greater Blytheville. This event will include chili booths — $30; info booths — $30; craft booths — $30; and food booths — $75. There will also be the United Way Chili Cook-Off 5K Run/Walk, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Youth Sportsplex. For more, contact Mary Helen Moody at 870-763-7522 or P.O. Box 866, Blytheville, AR 72316 to reserve a booth space.
OCT. 17
— "What Dreams May Come ...," a choral concert, will be presented at 3:30 p.m. that day in the Adams/Vines Recital Hall on the campus of Arkansas Northeastern College. Admission is free. The event will include performances by the college's Concert Singers, Women's Choir, Chamber Singers and Community Choir.
Events like these are the type of things that make you feel good about where you live. I urge everyone to make a point of taking in at least one or two of them.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
5Ks draw all kinds of participants
It was about 18 months ago that I signed up for my first 5K run.
I called it "throwing my hat over the wall" — a metaphor for committing to doing something, the notion being that once you've thrown your hat over the wall, you have no choice but to climb over and get it.
I remember the nervousness I felt as race day approached — days of both excitement and anticipation, as well as fear and anxiety. What if I don't finish? What if I'm slower than everybody else? What if I make a fool out of myself?
At times, I entertained dark imaginings of a field of runners, decked in high-end running gear, leaving me in the dust and wondering who let this newbie in.
So I trained hard. I hit the treadmill and the pavement, preparing myself for the distance. I purchased some modest "running" gear, so I wouldn't look like a complete novice. Mostly, I reminded myself over and over why I was doing it — to get healthier — and what anybody else thought about it didn't matter.
It turned out that my anxiety was for nothing. The 5K I ran in was full of runners and walkers of all shapes, sizes and experience. Sure, there were the gung-ho types in their fancy shoes who seemed to nearly sprint through the course. But it was also plainly evident that for many in the field, running a 5K wasn't an everyday experience. There were medium-speed runners, slow-runners and walkers. There were some that did a little of both. Some pushed baby-strollers. There were young kids and senior citizens.
Almost all were just like me — people out to do something a little healthier. There was nothing noteworthy about my presence among the runners and walkers.
Since then, I've done a handful of other 5Ks in communities across the area. Some have had only a few dozen participants; others have had thousands. But the thing I've observed is that every race is the same as far as the participants. You will always have your superstars; but you will also always have your plodders. I think that's my favorite thing about these races — the vast diversity in the abilities of the participants. Yet everyone is united by the great common denominator of living healthier.
I bring this all up because we are approximately one month away from Blytheville's 5K run, the Second Annual Chili Cook-Off 5K Run, set for 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. The race is being held in conjunction with the annual Chili Cook-Off, and will raise money for the United Way.
There was a decent field of runners and walkers last year, but we need more this year. I know there's lots of folks out there who are dabbling with healthier living. I've seen them walking in their neighborhoods or running at the Sportsplex. Well, here's their chance to throw their hats over the wall, and make an even stronger commitment to living healthy. There's nothing like the feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing a race like this, and it's a great motivator to staying on the healthy course.
The 5K will take place at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex on a course that has been certified by Jim Stearns of Jonesboro. Preregistration is $20. Participants can register online at racesonline.com, or they can pick up entry forms at the United Way Office, Ultimate Fitness, the ANC Fitness Center or the Great River Medical Center’s Fitness Center. Deadline for online registration 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 11. Race day registration is from 6-7 a.m. on the 16th, and is $30. For more, call Dave Freeze at 870-278-9281 or Rick Ash at 870-740-1914, or check out the "Blytheville Chili Run" page on Facebook.
I urge anyone looking to live a healthier lifestyle to take part. It will be a great way to spend an autumn morning, and it supports a good cause. So throw your hat over the wall and sign up. You won't regret it.
I called it "throwing my hat over the wall" — a metaphor for committing to doing something, the notion being that once you've thrown your hat over the wall, you have no choice but to climb over and get it.
I remember the nervousness I felt as race day approached — days of both excitement and anticipation, as well as fear and anxiety. What if I don't finish? What if I'm slower than everybody else? What if I make a fool out of myself?
At times, I entertained dark imaginings of a field of runners, decked in high-end running gear, leaving me in the dust and wondering who let this newbie in.
So I trained hard. I hit the treadmill and the pavement, preparing myself for the distance. I purchased some modest "running" gear, so I wouldn't look like a complete novice. Mostly, I reminded myself over and over why I was doing it — to get healthier — and what anybody else thought about it didn't matter.
It turned out that my anxiety was for nothing. The 5K I ran in was full of runners and walkers of all shapes, sizes and experience. Sure, there were the gung-ho types in their fancy shoes who seemed to nearly sprint through the course. But it was also plainly evident that for many in the field, running a 5K wasn't an everyday experience. There were medium-speed runners, slow-runners and walkers. There were some that did a little of both. Some pushed baby-strollers. There were young kids and senior citizens.
Almost all were just like me — people out to do something a little healthier. There was nothing noteworthy about my presence among the runners and walkers.
Since then, I've done a handful of other 5Ks in communities across the area. Some have had only a few dozen participants; others have had thousands. But the thing I've observed is that every race is the same as far as the participants. You will always have your superstars; but you will also always have your plodders. I think that's my favorite thing about these races — the vast diversity in the abilities of the participants. Yet everyone is united by the great common denominator of living healthier.
I bring this all up because we are approximately one month away from Blytheville's 5K run, the Second Annual Chili Cook-Off 5K Run, set for 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. The race is being held in conjunction with the annual Chili Cook-Off, and will raise money for the United Way.
There was a decent field of runners and walkers last year, but we need more this year. I know there's lots of folks out there who are dabbling with healthier living. I've seen them walking in their neighborhoods or running at the Sportsplex. Well, here's their chance to throw their hats over the wall, and make an even stronger commitment to living healthy. There's nothing like the feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing a race like this, and it's a great motivator to staying on the healthy course.
The 5K will take place at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex on a course that has been certified by Jim Stearns of Jonesboro. Preregistration is $20. Participants can register online at racesonline.com, or they can pick up entry forms at the United Way Office, Ultimate Fitness, the ANC Fitness Center or the Great River Medical Center’s Fitness Center. Deadline for online registration 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 11. Race day registration is from 6-7 a.m. on the 16th, and is $30. For more, call Dave Freeze at 870-278-9281 or Rick Ash at 870-740-1914, or check out the "Blytheville Chili Run" page on Facebook.
I urge anyone looking to live a healthier lifestyle to take part. It will be a great way to spend an autumn morning, and it supports a good cause. So throw your hat over the wall and sign up. You won't regret it.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Both sides might be right in BGRAA issue
For anyone who has been paying attention to the rumor mill for the past few months, it shouldn't come as any surprise that outgoing Blytheville Mayor Barrett Harrison was selected to replace the retiring Joe Gurley as director of the Blytheville/Gosnell Regional Airport Authority.
What was somewhat surprising, however, was that the vote was so close.
Harrison was tabbed to take over the Aeroplex gig during a BGRAA board meeting last Thursday. Board members actually split, 4-4, on the vote, and it took a vote from board chairman Don Houseworth to break the tie.
Though it was no doubt contentious, I personally found the split vote to be refreshing, and I commend those who voted on both sides. It always scares me when I see governmental bodies voting unanimously time after time. It's not human nature to be in constant agreement, and when there's never any dissent on boards, councils or committees, it's often a sign that the fix is in.
And when it comes to this particular split vote, it could be a case when everybody's right, at least in some ways.
Those voting against making the job offer were basically saying it was about the money, citing the $100,000 salary the Aeroplex director apparently receives. With rising utility and fuel costs, not to mention impending equipment costs and the impending loss of a major tenant, the argument was that BGRAA could save money by hiring from within, or leaving the executive director's post vacant.
On the flip side, those in favor of the the job offer argued that it would be a step backward for the Aeroplex to go without a director, that BGRAA needs a leader who will bring direction and vision to the organization.
I think both sides make great points. On one hand, I agree that you need a forward-thinking leader to head up the Aeroplex. Like anything else in our community, the Aeroplex needs to be, and can be, better than it is. There's more to do than manage day-to-day operations. Besides, once you take the viewpoint that you'll do something "when you have the money," it's a safe bet that you'll never do it.
Likewise, there's some financial realities that must be taken into consideration. At Thursday's meeting, board member Dick Reams said BGRAA is over budget on 57 line items, as of July 31. And with costs going up, and income potentially going down, there's obviously some tough decisions to be made.
The point here is not to debate whether or not Barrett Harrison is the best candidate for the job. As someone with 12 years of municipal management under his belt, he seems as qualified as you could expect a candidate for the Aeroplex job to be. And since BGRAA determined that the personal privacy of the 11 other applicants outweighed the public's interest in evaluating candidates for the job, we have no way of knowing if any candidate is better than Harrison.
But Harrison does have a way to remedy this situation in a manner that could benefit everyone: As executive director, he could recommend a pay cut for himself.
As Blytheville mayor, Harrison makes in the ballpark of $65-70,000 a year. As Aeroplex director, he stands to make upwards of $100,000, according to comments made at Thursday's meeting.
What's stopping Harrison from proposing that his salary be reduced to say, about $80,000 a year? Everybody would benefit — Harrison would still be getting a raise over his old job; BGRAA would have a solid leader at the helm; and there would be an extra $20,000 a year to put into the Aeroplex. It's a win-win-win possibility.
Of course, it would take a pretty selfless executive director to propose such a sacrifice for the common good. Is Barrett Harrison community-minded enough to propose such a thing? Who knows.
But one thing's for sure — Harrison will have some challenges ahead of him when he begins his new job. And some of those challenges may require some out-of-the-box thinking. Here's hoping Harrison considers all alternatives when it comes to making the Aeroplex prosper.
What was somewhat surprising, however, was that the vote was so close.
Harrison was tabbed to take over the Aeroplex gig during a BGRAA board meeting last Thursday. Board members actually split, 4-4, on the vote, and it took a vote from board chairman Don Houseworth to break the tie.
Though it was no doubt contentious, I personally found the split vote to be refreshing, and I commend those who voted on both sides. It always scares me when I see governmental bodies voting unanimously time after time. It's not human nature to be in constant agreement, and when there's never any dissent on boards, councils or committees, it's often a sign that the fix is in.
And when it comes to this particular split vote, it could be a case when everybody's right, at least in some ways.
Those voting against making the job offer were basically saying it was about the money, citing the $100,000 salary the Aeroplex director apparently receives. With rising utility and fuel costs, not to mention impending equipment costs and the impending loss of a major tenant, the argument was that BGRAA could save money by hiring from within, or leaving the executive director's post vacant.
On the flip side, those in favor of the the job offer argued that it would be a step backward for the Aeroplex to go without a director, that BGRAA needs a leader who will bring direction and vision to the organization.
I think both sides make great points. On one hand, I agree that you need a forward-thinking leader to head up the Aeroplex. Like anything else in our community, the Aeroplex needs to be, and can be, better than it is. There's more to do than manage day-to-day operations. Besides, once you take the viewpoint that you'll do something "when you have the money," it's a safe bet that you'll never do it.
Likewise, there's some financial realities that must be taken into consideration. At Thursday's meeting, board member Dick Reams said BGRAA is over budget on 57 line items, as of July 31. And with costs going up, and income potentially going down, there's obviously some tough decisions to be made.
The point here is not to debate whether or not Barrett Harrison is the best candidate for the job. As someone with 12 years of municipal management under his belt, he seems as qualified as you could expect a candidate for the Aeroplex job to be. And since BGRAA determined that the personal privacy of the 11 other applicants outweighed the public's interest in evaluating candidates for the job, we have no way of knowing if any candidate is better than Harrison.
But Harrison does have a way to remedy this situation in a manner that could benefit everyone: As executive director, he could recommend a pay cut for himself.
As Blytheville mayor, Harrison makes in the ballpark of $65-70,000 a year. As Aeroplex director, he stands to make upwards of $100,000, according to comments made at Thursday's meeting.
What's stopping Harrison from proposing that his salary be reduced to say, about $80,000 a year? Everybody would benefit — Harrison would still be getting a raise over his old job; BGRAA would have a solid leader at the helm; and there would be an extra $20,000 a year to put into the Aeroplex. It's a win-win-win possibility.
Of course, it would take a pretty selfless executive director to propose such a sacrifice for the common good. Is Barrett Harrison community-minded enough to propose such a thing? Who knows.
But one thing's for sure — Harrison will have some challenges ahead of him when he begins his new job. And some of those challenges may require some out-of-the-box thinking. Here's hoping Harrison considers all alternatives when it comes to making the Aeroplex prosper.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
First day of school stings a little
Our family had an eventful first day of school this year, though it really had nothing to do with the kids. Or the school.
We had already taken our ceremonial "first day of school picture" — we take it in front of the same bush every year — and were just waiting for the school bus to arrive. I decided to sit while I waited on our front porch swing.
Unfortunately, I failed to remember that for several weeks, we had been seeing some wasp activity in that area, specifically, around the bird house that hangs just above the swing. Well, apparently the gentle rocking of the swing was enough to disturb the wasps who were living nearby, and within a few seconds, I was ripping my shirt off, grimacing at the sharp stinging pain in the middle of my back.
By the time I escaped the porch, a looked back to see a swarm of at least 30 wasps, madly flying about the area.
Thankfully, I was the only one stung, and there was no other harm done, save for the image of of me ripping my shirt off in my front lawn, which is no doubt burnt indelibly into the eyes of my neighbors.
Other than that, the first day of school went off without a hitch.
With Katie now in sixth grade, and Drew in third, the first day of school is a ritual we've gone through seven times. It's probably a bigger deal to the parents than it is to the kids. Katie and Drew insist on riding the bus — I guess they think they're too big to be taken to school in the car. Having heard the horror stories about first-day traffic jams, I'm more than willing to not have to mess with it.
Truth be told, even in the early years, the first day of school never offered us the dramatics that other families experience. On Katie's first day of kindergarten, the most interesting thing was that we were almost late, having been blocked by a train while en route. On Drew's first day of kindergarten, he went marching down the hall toward his room, barely even noticing his parents hurrying behind him.
But it is good to be back in school. The freedom of summer is nice, but it's good to get back to the sense of structure and direction that the school year provides.
For Drew, that direction has come in the way of reading. He's required to read at least 15 minutes every day, with special recognition coming to those students who log greater numbers of minutes read. The crown jewel, apparently, is to read a total of 10,000 minutes, and Drew arrived home on the first day of school determined to hit that mark — and hit it before anyone else. By the end of the weekend, he had already logged more than 400 minutes of reading. It was actually nice to see the video games take a back seat for a while.
For Katie, the first week of school was punctuated by her belated birthday party. With an Aug. 9 birthday, we delayed the festivities in hopes of having a few more kids available to attend. In total, 16 of her classmates joined us at her grandparents rural home for hot dogs, s'mores and a hayride. It was good to see Katie and so many of her classmates having a good time. It was a fun way to start the school year.
In short, we've hit the ground running. Even now, less than a week into the school year, the routine is getting to be old hat.
If we can just keep the wasp nets away from our house, we should have smooth sailing for the next few months.
We had already taken our ceremonial "first day of school picture" — we take it in front of the same bush every year — and were just waiting for the school bus to arrive. I decided to sit while I waited on our front porch swing.
Unfortunately, I failed to remember that for several weeks, we had been seeing some wasp activity in that area, specifically, around the bird house that hangs just above the swing. Well, apparently the gentle rocking of the swing was enough to disturb the wasps who were living nearby, and within a few seconds, I was ripping my shirt off, grimacing at the sharp stinging pain in the middle of my back.
By the time I escaped the porch, a looked back to see a swarm of at least 30 wasps, madly flying about the area.
Thankfully, I was the only one stung, and there was no other harm done, save for the image of of me ripping my shirt off in my front lawn, which is no doubt burnt indelibly into the eyes of my neighbors.
Other than that, the first day of school went off without a hitch.
With Katie now in sixth grade, and Drew in third, the first day of school is a ritual we've gone through seven times. It's probably a bigger deal to the parents than it is to the kids. Katie and Drew insist on riding the bus — I guess they think they're too big to be taken to school in the car. Having heard the horror stories about first-day traffic jams, I'm more than willing to not have to mess with it.
Truth be told, even in the early years, the first day of school never offered us the dramatics that other families experience. On Katie's first day of kindergarten, the most interesting thing was that we were almost late, having been blocked by a train while en route. On Drew's first day of kindergarten, he went marching down the hall toward his room, barely even noticing his parents hurrying behind him.
But it is good to be back in school. The freedom of summer is nice, but it's good to get back to the sense of structure and direction that the school year provides.
For Drew, that direction has come in the way of reading. He's required to read at least 15 minutes every day, with special recognition coming to those students who log greater numbers of minutes read. The crown jewel, apparently, is to read a total of 10,000 minutes, and Drew arrived home on the first day of school determined to hit that mark — and hit it before anyone else. By the end of the weekend, he had already logged more than 400 minutes of reading. It was actually nice to see the video games take a back seat for a while.
For Katie, the first week of school was punctuated by her belated birthday party. With an Aug. 9 birthday, we delayed the festivities in hopes of having a few more kids available to attend. In total, 16 of her classmates joined us at her grandparents rural home for hot dogs, s'mores and a hayride. It was good to see Katie and so many of her classmates having a good time. It was a fun way to start the school year.
In short, we've hit the ground running. Even now, less than a week into the school year, the routine is getting to be old hat.
If we can just keep the wasp nets away from our house, we should have smooth sailing for the next few months.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Summer riding off into sunset
Something a bit melancholy transpired last Friday night, though for all but the most astute of observers, it probably went unnoticed.
It was last Friday when, for the first time in months, the evening sun set prior to 8 p.m., gently dropping below the horizon at 7:59.
It may have been but a minor incident; yet it served as a reminder that the certainties of the calendar year are still in effect; and our days are, indeed, creeping shorter and shorter.
For as subtle a sign as an earlier sunset may be, a more flagrant sign of the changing seasons comes tomorrow, when students at Armorel, Blytheville and Gosnell public schools head back to school. I've often thought that the "new year" would be better observed in August, rather than January; for as anyone with school-age children knows, it is the school calendar the dominates the cycle of the modern life.
Often, around this time of year, I've written my lament at the slow fade of summer. I've always been a fan of spring and summer, from the warm air that they bring, to the freedom they represent. But I'm trying hard to let summer go without much grieving this time around.
It was Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana who said, "To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring."
I'm trying to keep those words in mind, as we transition into fall, not to mention the winter that will follow. Though spring and summer have their glory, there is much to love about autumn as well.
For instance, fall means football. Baseball may have its spot in Americana; but everyone knows these days, it's football that is "America's game." From high school games under the Friday night lights, to Saturday afternoons on the college gridiron, to Sunday's NFL matchups, I'm looking to watching a few contests.
Fall also means soccer. For the fifth fall in a row, my kids will be be taking part in the fall league sponsored by the Blytheville Area Soccer Association. For the fourth year, I will be a coach. Though they've also played softball, baseball and basketball, soccer still tops my kids' list of favorite sports, and the soccer pitch is a great place to spend an autumn weekend. (For anyone interested, Saturday is the last day to sign up for BASA soccer; 10 a.m.-3 p.m at the Chamber.)
Fall means leaves changing colors. Green will always be my favorite color. But seeing the reds, golds, oranges and browns in the trees is always a sight to behold. And there's nothing like the feeling of dragging your feet through a pile of freshly fallen leaves.
Fall means no more mowing the lawn. I admit, the first time out on the mower in the spring is always a thrill. But by this time of year, I'm sick of it. I'm ready to let go of this chore for a few months.
Fall means Halloween. It's neat to watch little kids get dressed up in costumes and take to the neighborhood streets for a fun-filled evening in the crisp night air.
Fall means cooler temperatures. And after the past few weeks, it couldn't happen soon enough. The changing season will bring new opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, whether its going for a run, sitting on the patio or just taking a walk with the family.
Oh sure, I will still grieve a little at the passing of another summer. It brought with it some good times — times that will be missed, but also treasured. But like every season before it, we knew it would end.
Besides that, it's not like summer is over just yet. It's still another month before autumn's official arrival, and the temperatures are still climbing into the 90s on a daily basis. There's still time to take joy in what we have left, while simultaneously looking forward to what it to come.
It was last Friday when, for the first time in months, the evening sun set prior to 8 p.m., gently dropping below the horizon at 7:59.
It may have been but a minor incident; yet it served as a reminder that the certainties of the calendar year are still in effect; and our days are, indeed, creeping shorter and shorter.
For as subtle a sign as an earlier sunset may be, a more flagrant sign of the changing seasons comes tomorrow, when students at Armorel, Blytheville and Gosnell public schools head back to school. I've often thought that the "new year" would be better observed in August, rather than January; for as anyone with school-age children knows, it is the school calendar the dominates the cycle of the modern life.
Often, around this time of year, I've written my lament at the slow fade of summer. I've always been a fan of spring and summer, from the warm air that they bring, to the freedom they represent. But I'm trying hard to let summer go without much grieving this time around.
It was Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana who said, "To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring."
I'm trying to keep those words in mind, as we transition into fall, not to mention the winter that will follow. Though spring and summer have their glory, there is much to love about autumn as well.
For instance, fall means football. Baseball may have its spot in Americana; but everyone knows these days, it's football that is "America's game." From high school games under the Friday night lights, to Saturday afternoons on the college gridiron, to Sunday's NFL matchups, I'm looking to watching a few contests.
Fall also means soccer. For the fifth fall in a row, my kids will be be taking part in the fall league sponsored by the Blytheville Area Soccer Association. For the fourth year, I will be a coach. Though they've also played softball, baseball and basketball, soccer still tops my kids' list of favorite sports, and the soccer pitch is a great place to spend an autumn weekend. (For anyone interested, Saturday is the last day to sign up for BASA soccer; 10 a.m.-3 p.m at the Chamber.)
Fall means leaves changing colors. Green will always be my favorite color. But seeing the reds, golds, oranges and browns in the trees is always a sight to behold. And there's nothing like the feeling of dragging your feet through a pile of freshly fallen leaves.
Fall means no more mowing the lawn. I admit, the first time out on the mower in the spring is always a thrill. But by this time of year, I'm sick of it. I'm ready to let go of this chore for a few months.
Fall means Halloween. It's neat to watch little kids get dressed up in costumes and take to the neighborhood streets for a fun-filled evening in the crisp night air.
Fall means cooler temperatures. And after the past few weeks, it couldn't happen soon enough. The changing season will bring new opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, whether its going for a run, sitting on the patio or just taking a walk with the family.
Oh sure, I will still grieve a little at the passing of another summer. It brought with it some good times — times that will be missed, but also treasured. But like every season before it, we knew it would end.
Besides that, it's not like summer is over just yet. It's still another month before autumn's official arrival, and the temperatures are still climbing into the 90s on a daily basis. There's still time to take joy in what we have left, while simultaneously looking forward to what it to come.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Pobody's nerfect
Believe it or not, I really do know how to spell "hospital."
Of course, if you read Thursday's Courier News, you might think otherwise. After all, that's where you would find — on Page 1, mind you ... in large, bold type, no less — the word "hosptial" where the word "hospital" should have been.
Sigh.
I like to think of myself as a reasonably intelligent person. But when you make mistakes like that, it really doesn't help the cause.
The truth of the matter is the story was a last-minute addition to Page 1. (Staff writer Donna Loyd Hilton did a great job putting the story together in the limited time available.) I guess I got in a hurry. Several different people looked over the page before it went to press, but nobody caught the gaffe until the papers were on the street.
Really, there's no excuse. It was a stupid mistake, an oversight, and I apologize.
Thankfully, we were spared the wave of phone calls from helpful readers eager to provide valuable spelling tips. I guess the actual news about the hosptial — er, hospital — not to mention the latest Carol White fracas, was enough to keep folks distracted.
But that wasn't the case on July 29 when this newspaper committed one of the most egregious errors in journalism history when we (gulp) misidentified a crop.
In this case, it was cotton, mistakenly referred to as soybeans in a caption under a photo. I would like to take this time to personally thank the 11 readers out there who did NOT call us to let us know about this faux pas.
The one thing I learned after Cottongate is that, at least in this part of the country, there's not too many mistakes that will raise the ire of readers more than misidentifying a crop. Seriously — some of the folks I spoke with were downright indignant when they called.
I never realized the pride some folks take in their ability to identify crops. And I admit I'm pretty bad with it. Sure, having grown up in Iowa, I know a thing or two about spotting a corn field. But cotton and soybeans — at least until the bolls appear — always trip me up. I'm told the difference is in the blooms. (Although, for the record, you can Google "soybean blooms" and find some flowers that look similar to cotton blooms — at least similar enough to confuse a newspaper editor.)
Seriously, we hate making mistakes in the newspaper, and we strive every day to keep them out. But we're not perfect, and it's inevitable that an error or two will creep into the newspaper on a fairly consistent basis — sometimes, they'll even make their way into giant headlines or prominent captions on Page 1.
The thing I hope folks remember is that everyone, in every occupation, makes mistakes, whether it's teachers or factory workers or salesmen. Most of the time, nobody knows. The difference is that with the newspaper business, when we make a mistake, we print off 6,000 copies, and give one to everybody in town.
It can be embarrassing, to be sure. But at least a typo here and there generally doesn't hurt anyone. I would hate to see anyone sent to the hosptial over something that was printed in the newspaper.
Of course, if you read Thursday's Courier News, you might think otherwise. After all, that's where you would find — on Page 1, mind you ... in large, bold type, no less — the word "hosptial" where the word "hospital" should have been.
Sigh.
I like to think of myself as a reasonably intelligent person. But when you make mistakes like that, it really doesn't help the cause.
The truth of the matter is the story was a last-minute addition to Page 1. (Staff writer Donna Loyd Hilton did a great job putting the story together in the limited time available.) I guess I got in a hurry. Several different people looked over the page before it went to press, but nobody caught the gaffe until the papers were on the street.
Really, there's no excuse. It was a stupid mistake, an oversight, and I apologize.
Thankfully, we were spared the wave of phone calls from helpful readers eager to provide valuable spelling tips. I guess the actual news about the hosptial — er, hospital — not to mention the latest Carol White fracas, was enough to keep folks distracted.
But that wasn't the case on July 29 when this newspaper committed one of the most egregious errors in journalism history when we (gulp) misidentified a crop.
In this case, it was cotton, mistakenly referred to as soybeans in a caption under a photo. I would like to take this time to personally thank the 11 readers out there who did NOT call us to let us know about this faux pas.
The one thing I learned after Cottongate is that, at least in this part of the country, there's not too many mistakes that will raise the ire of readers more than misidentifying a crop. Seriously — some of the folks I spoke with were downright indignant when they called.
I never realized the pride some folks take in their ability to identify crops. And I admit I'm pretty bad with it. Sure, having grown up in Iowa, I know a thing or two about spotting a corn field. But cotton and soybeans — at least until the bolls appear — always trip me up. I'm told the difference is in the blooms. (Although, for the record, you can Google "soybean blooms" and find some flowers that look similar to cotton blooms — at least similar enough to confuse a newspaper editor.)
Seriously, we hate making mistakes in the newspaper, and we strive every day to keep them out. But we're not perfect, and it's inevitable that an error or two will creep into the newspaper on a fairly consistent basis — sometimes, they'll even make their way into giant headlines or prominent captions on Page 1.
The thing I hope folks remember is that everyone, in every occupation, makes mistakes, whether it's teachers or factory workers or salesmen. Most of the time, nobody knows. The difference is that with the newspaper business, when we make a mistake, we print off 6,000 copies, and give one to everybody in town.
It can be embarrassing, to be sure. But at least a typo here and there generally doesn't hurt anyone. I would hate to see anyone sent to the hosptial over something that was printed in the newspaper.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Job growth key to building prosperity
When it comes to the economic development sales tax — on the ballot next Tuesday in Mississippi County — I admit I have been on the fence.
On one hand, I can plainly see the success of the tax, in the way of the roughly 3,000 jobs that have been created since its inception seven years ago. Besides that, I'm a strong believer in the aggressive and continuous pursuit of economic development projects.
On the other hand, I am concerned about the continued lack of prosperity in our county, in spite of the jobs that have been created. The lack of prosperity can be observed in several ways, ranging from population declines to shuttered store fronts. I've wondered whether or not there might be some other strategies that ought to be considered when it comes to building a better community for those who live here.
But at the end of the day, I stand with those in support of the sales tax, for the simple fact that it's too soon to pass judgment on the success or failure of our economic development efforts. Seven years isn't enough time to build an economy.
For me, the whole thing comes down to prosperity. Are we building it, or are we losing it? Some signs are discouraging, such as the aforementioned population decline and empty storefronts.
Yet to be fair, there have been positive signs as well. For instance, one of the greatest barometers of a community's prosperity is per capita income. And in Mississippi County, from 2000 to 2007, per capita income climbed from $18,383 to $26,040, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysts. That's an encouraging sign.
And even though we can all rattle off lists of businesses that have closed in the past decade, there are many that have opened as well. It wasn't that long ago that the area along Highway 18 east of Blytheville was nothing but cotton fields. Today, the area is bustling with retail development.
Yet anyone who would claim Blytheville — or Mississippi County — is booming just isn't paying attention. Whether it's the constant drone of the local drug trade or the lack of skilled laborers, it's clear that we are not a prosperous community yet.
To me, much of it comes down to population. Where there is prosperity, the population grows; where prosperity is lacking, population declines. It will still be several months before the 2010 Census numbers start coming in, but most watchers expect to see continued declines for cities like Blytheville. A drop in the county population wouldn't be unexpected either.
This is a big problem. It's the reason why we haven't seen the retail growth we all desire; it's the reason Mississippi County is an importer of labor.
If you ask me, the "Apollo Project" for our area over the next decade ought to be the stabilization of our population base. Local leaders ought to pursue potential residents with as much zeal and ingenuity as they have for potential employers. If we can't begin to see population growth by 2020, we probably never will.
So how do you build population? Well, there's a number of things you've got to do. You've got to keep crime to a minimum. You've got to have attractive local schools. You've got to maintain a strong infrastructure. You've got to develop quality-of-life enhancements, like parks and museums.
But you've also got to have jobs. No area can ever expect to experience growth without an abundance — perhaps a surplus — of jobs.
And ultimately, that's why I support the half-cent sales tax for economic development. Ample employment opportunities are the cornerstone to any effort to build population and develop prosperity.
But job growth is only the first step. More must be done to fill local jobs with local people. More must be done to fight crime and fix the infrastructure. More must be done to make people want to live in Mississippi County.
Economic development is about more than luring factories. It is about building prosperity. The sales tax for economic development should stay, because it is a key part to all that. But local leaders — and local citizens — still have years of work to do before the job will be done.
On one hand, I can plainly see the success of the tax, in the way of the roughly 3,000 jobs that have been created since its inception seven years ago. Besides that, I'm a strong believer in the aggressive and continuous pursuit of economic development projects.
On the other hand, I am concerned about the continued lack of prosperity in our county, in spite of the jobs that have been created. The lack of prosperity can be observed in several ways, ranging from population declines to shuttered store fronts. I've wondered whether or not there might be some other strategies that ought to be considered when it comes to building a better community for those who live here.
But at the end of the day, I stand with those in support of the sales tax, for the simple fact that it's too soon to pass judgment on the success or failure of our economic development efforts. Seven years isn't enough time to build an economy.
For me, the whole thing comes down to prosperity. Are we building it, or are we losing it? Some signs are discouraging, such as the aforementioned population decline and empty storefronts.
Yet to be fair, there have been positive signs as well. For instance, one of the greatest barometers of a community's prosperity is per capita income. And in Mississippi County, from 2000 to 2007, per capita income climbed from $18,383 to $26,040, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysts. That's an encouraging sign.
And even though we can all rattle off lists of businesses that have closed in the past decade, there are many that have opened as well. It wasn't that long ago that the area along Highway 18 east of Blytheville was nothing but cotton fields. Today, the area is bustling with retail development.
Yet anyone who would claim Blytheville — or Mississippi County — is booming just isn't paying attention. Whether it's the constant drone of the local drug trade or the lack of skilled laborers, it's clear that we are not a prosperous community yet.
To me, much of it comes down to population. Where there is prosperity, the population grows; where prosperity is lacking, population declines. It will still be several months before the 2010 Census numbers start coming in, but most watchers expect to see continued declines for cities like Blytheville. A drop in the county population wouldn't be unexpected either.
This is a big problem. It's the reason why we haven't seen the retail growth we all desire; it's the reason Mississippi County is an importer of labor.
If you ask me, the "Apollo Project" for our area over the next decade ought to be the stabilization of our population base. Local leaders ought to pursue potential residents with as much zeal and ingenuity as they have for potential employers. If we can't begin to see population growth by 2020, we probably never will.
So how do you build population? Well, there's a number of things you've got to do. You've got to keep crime to a minimum. You've got to have attractive local schools. You've got to maintain a strong infrastructure. You've got to develop quality-of-life enhancements, like parks and museums.
But you've also got to have jobs. No area can ever expect to experience growth without an abundance — perhaps a surplus — of jobs.
And ultimately, that's why I support the half-cent sales tax for economic development. Ample employment opportunities are the cornerstone to any effort to build population and develop prosperity.
But job growth is only the first step. More must be done to fill local jobs with local people. More must be done to fight crime and fix the infrastructure. More must be done to make people want to live in Mississippi County.
Economic development is about more than luring factories. It is about building prosperity. The sales tax for economic development should stay, because it is a key part to all that. But local leaders — and local citizens — still have years of work to do before the job will be done.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Video games common around the house
The latest addition to our family's entertainment options arrived Sunday afternoon in the way of the Wii Fit Plus. My wife, Jena, made the purchase, as part of a birthday present for herself and the rest of the family.
So far, it's been a hit. The kids love all the balancing games, from the snowboarding to the ski-jumping to the soccer ball heading. Jena is looking forward to some of the many yoga exercises included. And I've even been able to take my running habit into the cyber world, via the unique technological capabilities of the game.
Wii Fit joins a strong portfolio of electronic games in our household. On the Wii, we enjoy everything from Wii Sports to something called "Just Dance."
There's also the Nintendo DS that actually belongs to 8-year-old Drew. He bought the DS used last spring, after saving up his money for several months. He has a coveted Pokemon game for it, as well as a game featuring some kind of "Kirby" character. The DS will also play the plethora of GBA games we had for our old worn-out Game Boy Advance, which technically belonged to now-10-year-old Katie.
And of course, we have our iPhones, which Jena and I have loaded with games ranging from checkers to Scrabble to Othello.
So I guess you could say we do a lot of gaming these days. Whether it's in the family room, in the car or waiting at the doctor's office, it seems there's always a video game within reach.
It's a far cry from my childhood. When I was in elementary school, about the only place to play video games was at the video arcade at the mall or in the back room of the bowling alley. My parents weren't keen to let me spend too much time in either place, so I wasn't much of a gamer.
Somewhere along the line in elementary school, Atari came out with the 2600 game system. Suddenly, everyone was playing video games in their living rooms, from Space Invaders to Pac-Man. Well, everyone but me, it seemed. My parents saw no need in spending money on such a silly fad, and the closest thing I ever got to a video game was a crude handheld electronic football game.
By the time I got to college, the Nintendo Entertainment System was king of the dorm. Indeed, during my freshman year, I think I learned as much about Super Mario Brothers and Zelda than I did about College Algebra or English Comp. Later, my roommates and I were known to stay up into the wee hours of the morning playing simulation games like Civilization on our PCs. (We were quite the party animals.)
Needless to say, growing up in the 1980s, it was pretty much impossible to not spend a little time playing video games. Any effort my parents put forth to eschew such trivialities was futile.
So that's why, when my own kids fire began showing interest in video games, I was generally content to oblige. I understand the allure of such games — and in today's computer-driven world, it's good to be technologically savvy.
Of course, there need to be limits. I have no intention of raising a couple of couch potatoes, who do nothing but stare at video screens all day and recoil at the sight of the sun.
That's one of the things I like about the Wii, and especially the new Wii Fit Plus. There's no sitting on the couch with these games. They get you up, get you moving around. You're likely to break a sweat. On Sunday, Drew jogged in place for nearly 30 minutes straight playing one of the running games. Katie has been building up balance, agility, flexibility and endurance with the strength activities and the hula-hoop game.
In other words, this isn't their father's video game system.
And with the hot Delta sun making it pretty much impossible to get outside this time of year, the Wii Fit is certainly a welcome option for indoor family fun. I'm glad it's part of our home.
So far, it's been a hit. The kids love all the balancing games, from the snowboarding to the ski-jumping to the soccer ball heading. Jena is looking forward to some of the many yoga exercises included. And I've even been able to take my running habit into the cyber world, via the unique technological capabilities of the game.
Wii Fit joins a strong portfolio of electronic games in our household. On the Wii, we enjoy everything from Wii Sports to something called "Just Dance."
There's also the Nintendo DS that actually belongs to 8-year-old Drew. He bought the DS used last spring, after saving up his money for several months. He has a coveted Pokemon game for it, as well as a game featuring some kind of "Kirby" character. The DS will also play the plethora of GBA games we had for our old worn-out Game Boy Advance, which technically belonged to now-10-year-old Katie.
And of course, we have our iPhones, which Jena and I have loaded with games ranging from checkers to Scrabble to Othello.
So I guess you could say we do a lot of gaming these days. Whether it's in the family room, in the car or waiting at the doctor's office, it seems there's always a video game within reach.
It's a far cry from my childhood. When I was in elementary school, about the only place to play video games was at the video arcade at the mall or in the back room of the bowling alley. My parents weren't keen to let me spend too much time in either place, so I wasn't much of a gamer.
Somewhere along the line in elementary school, Atari came out with the 2600 game system. Suddenly, everyone was playing video games in their living rooms, from Space Invaders to Pac-Man. Well, everyone but me, it seemed. My parents saw no need in spending money on such a silly fad, and the closest thing I ever got to a video game was a crude handheld electronic football game.
By the time I got to college, the Nintendo Entertainment System was king of the dorm. Indeed, during my freshman year, I think I learned as much about Super Mario Brothers and Zelda than I did about College Algebra or English Comp. Later, my roommates and I were known to stay up into the wee hours of the morning playing simulation games like Civilization on our PCs. (We were quite the party animals.)
Needless to say, growing up in the 1980s, it was pretty much impossible to not spend a little time playing video games. Any effort my parents put forth to eschew such trivialities was futile.
So that's why, when my own kids fire began showing interest in video games, I was generally content to oblige. I understand the allure of such games — and in today's computer-driven world, it's good to be technologically savvy.
Of course, there need to be limits. I have no intention of raising a couple of couch potatoes, who do nothing but stare at video screens all day and recoil at the sight of the sun.
That's one of the things I like about the Wii, and especially the new Wii Fit Plus. There's no sitting on the couch with these games. They get you up, get you moving around. You're likely to break a sweat. On Sunday, Drew jogged in place for nearly 30 minutes straight playing one of the running games. Katie has been building up balance, agility, flexibility and endurance with the strength activities and the hula-hoop game.
In other words, this isn't their father's video game system.
And with the hot Delta sun making it pretty much impossible to get outside this time of year, the Wii Fit is certainly a welcome option for indoor family fun. I'm glad it's part of our home.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Disney magic alive for young and old
I never got to go to Disney World as a little kid.
There's no doubt I wanted to go. I'd see the commercials on TV, or see images from the theme parks Sunday nights on the old "Wonderful World of Disney" television show.
And though my family took many nice vacations — to places like the lakes of Minnesota, the Black Hills of South Dakota and the skyscrapers of Chicago — Disney World was never in the mix.
It wasn't until my freshman year of high school that I made my first trip to see the mouse in central Florida. It was with my high school band. I immediately fell in love with the place. It wasn't just another theme park — it was a place of whimsy and adventure, where the dreams of tomorrow became the realities of today. On that trip and on another band trip two years later, I began laying plans for future return trips in my adult years.
The first of those trips came in 1998, when my wife, Jena, and I went to Florida, along with my sister and her husband. It would be a year before any of us would have children. It was a great trip, and we pledged to repeat the journey in the years to come, as our families grew.
Three years ago, Jena and I took our two kids, Katie and Drew, then ages 7 and 4, to Disney World for their first trip. It was a magical trip, the fulfillment of many of the plans originally hatched on the high school band trips of many years ago.
But the ultimate fulfillment of my Disney World plans came last week, when we made a return trip to the World, this time with my sister and her family, along with my 70-year-old father. The nine of us, with kids ages 6, 8, 10 and 11 in tow, had a truly spectacular time, making memories that will last us a lifetime.
Visiting Disney isn't like any other vacation. If you picture a vacation as a time to sleep in, lounge around all day and generally relax, Disney World probably isn't for you.
But if you still have a 5-year-old child somewhere deep within your soul, and you want to let that child come out to play for a while, there's no better place to be than Disney World.
On our weeklong trip we piloted a spacecraft to Mars. We hang-glided over California. We road magic carpets. We pillaged with pirates. We took an African safari. We had a close encounter with the Yeti on Mount Everest. We dined in a German village. We braved the spooky Hollywood Tower Hotel.
I could go on and on about the wonderful attractions we saw — which are truly awesome. The imagination and innovation that Disney puts into its attractions are truly phenomenal.
But the best part of our trip was not the attractions we experienced, but rather the people we experienced them with. For instance, the Studio Backlot Tour wouldn't have been nearly as much fun if my sister hadn't been picked to be part of the show. Walking down Main Street USA for the first time wouldn't have been nearly as special if it hadn't been my father's first time seeing Cinderella Castle. And Space Mountain wouldn't have been nearly as exhilarating without the screams and laughter of my children and their cousins ringing in my ears.
In fact, some my favorite parts of the trip had nothing to do with the attractions. Some of the best times were simply the moments spent with family, whether it was around the dinner table, in line for an attraction, on the bus to our resort, or waiting at the airport. That special family time — coupled with the magic of Disney — is what made this latest trip one that will be difficult to top.
It will probably be some time before our family returns to Disney World. Increasingly hectic lives, along with the allure of other locales, (not to mention other financial commitments) will no doubt keep us busy for quite a few years.
But as long as there is still a small child resting deep within my soul, I will always quietly be making plans for my next trip to see the mouse in central Florida. You're never too old for Disney World.
There's no doubt I wanted to go. I'd see the commercials on TV, or see images from the theme parks Sunday nights on the old "Wonderful World of Disney" television show.
And though my family took many nice vacations — to places like the lakes of Minnesota, the Black Hills of South Dakota and the skyscrapers of Chicago — Disney World was never in the mix.
It wasn't until my freshman year of high school that I made my first trip to see the mouse in central Florida. It was with my high school band. I immediately fell in love with the place. It wasn't just another theme park — it was a place of whimsy and adventure, where the dreams of tomorrow became the realities of today. On that trip and on another band trip two years later, I began laying plans for future return trips in my adult years.
The first of those trips came in 1998, when my wife, Jena, and I went to Florida, along with my sister and her husband. It would be a year before any of us would have children. It was a great trip, and we pledged to repeat the journey in the years to come, as our families grew.Three years ago, Jena and I took our two kids, Katie and Drew, then ages 7 and 4, to Disney World for their first trip. It was a magical trip, the fulfillment of many of the plans originally hatched on the high school band trips of many years ago.
But the ultimate fulfillment of my Disney World plans came last week, when we made a return trip to the World, this time with my sister and her family, along with my 70-year-old father. The nine of us, with kids ages 6, 8, 10 and 11 in tow, had a truly spectacular time, making memories that will last us a lifetime.
Visiting Disney isn't like any other vacation. If you picture a vacation as a time to sleep in, lounge around all day and generally relax, Disney World probably isn't for you.
But if you still have a 5-year-old child somewhere deep within your soul, and you want to let that child come out to play for a while, there's no better place to be than Disney World.On our weeklong trip we piloted a spacecraft to Mars. We hang-glided over California. We road magic carpets. We pillaged with pirates. We took an African safari. We had a close encounter with the Yeti on Mount Everest. We dined in a German village. We braved the spooky Hollywood Tower Hotel.
I could go on and on about the wonderful attractions we saw — which are truly awesome. The imagination and innovation that Disney puts into its attractions are truly phenomenal.
But the best part of our trip was not the attractions we experienced, but rather the people we experienced them with. For instance, the Studio Backlot Tour wouldn't have been nearly as much fun if my sister hadn't been picked to be part of the show. Walking down Main Street USA for the first time wouldn't have been nearly as special if it hadn't been my father's first time seeing Cinderella Castle. And Space Mountain wouldn't have been nearly as exhilarating without the screams and laughter of my children and their cousins ringing in my ears.
In fact, some my favorite parts of the trip had nothing to do with the attractions. Some of the best times were simply the moments spent with family, whether it was around the dinner table, in line for an attraction, on the bus to our resort, or waiting at the airport. That special family time — coupled with the magic of Disney — is what made this latest trip one that will be difficult to top.
It will probably be some time before our family returns to Disney World. Increasingly hectic lives, along with the allure of other locales, (not to mention other financial commitments) will no doubt keep us busy for quite a few years. But as long as there is still a small child resting deep within my soul, I will always quietly be making plans for my next trip to see the mouse in central Florida. You're never too old for Disney World.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
A long time before the next holiday
With the Fourth of July now behind us, we enter the longest holiday drought of the year. From early July until early September, there are no major holidays on the calendar.
I've always found it odd that August is the one month of the year without a holiday. It almost seems unfair. January has New Year's and MLK Jr. Day; February has Valentine's; March has St. Patrick's Day; April has Easter; May has Mother's Day and Memorial Day; June has Father's Day; July has the Fourth; September has Labor Day; October has Halloween; November has Veterans Day and Thanksgiving; and December has Christmas.
But August: Nothing.
Sure, there are a couple of bizarre, trivial holidays in August, such as "Respect for Parents Day" (Aug. 1), "National Underwear Day" (Aug. 5) and "National Waffle Day" (Aug. 24). But none of these seem like the proper occasion to shoot off fireworks, exchange gifts or gorge ourselves on turkey.
I've often thought that we ought to celebrate New Year's in August. After all, for many families, the annual cycle does not begin in January, but in August, with the start of the school year. Besides that, we've already got enough holidays in the weeks from late November to early January. But it's too early to even contemplate anything having to do with the start of the school year and the end of summer, so we'll end that discussion right now.
Back to the Fourth of July — it's always been one of my favorite holidays. Anytime you can put together warm afternoons, family get-togethers and blowing stuff up, you've got a winner.
I enjoyed my night at the Sportsplex Sunday watching Blytheville's city fireworks display. It was a good show, and I tip my hat to the organizers. The highlight, I think, was simply seeing the people in lawn chairs and on blankets, coming together to celebrate their nation's birthday. A few kids were playing with sparklers. Some boys were playing a pick-up game of football. One girl had a hula-hoop that would light up when spun around. It was a slice of Americana right here in Blytheville.
My only complaint on the evening was the constant passing of motorists — with their bright headlights — into and out of the area throughout the entire fireworks show. Perhaps the entrance to the parking lot ought to be shut down once the fireworks begin. Something to think about for next year.
If I were to rank my favorite holidays, the Fourth of July would be near the top.
Christmas is clearly the No. 1 pick. In spite of the chaos and hassle that sometimes drives me nuts, it's still one of my favorite times of the year — from the music, to the gifts, to the excitement of Christmas morning.
Halloween used to be near the top, but it's really more of a night for kids than anything else. I do, however, enjoy stealing any Sweet Tarts or Nerds candy my children are lucky enough to procure.
As I'm not a huge fan of turkey, Thanksgiving has always been just "OK." It's always nice to see family, though.
The egg hunt at Easter is a good time, as is the decoration of said eggs in anticipation. The only problem is figuring out what to do with a bunch of hard-boiled eggs after the fact.
New Year's was more fun back when I was young enough to stay up until midnight. I still enjoy the Rose Parade and watching football games, though.
And as a dad, I naturally appreciate Father's Day.
So as I think about it, I'd have to say that Independence Day comes in at a strong No. 2. It's a great holiday, both in the history that it celebrates and in the modern rituals that have been created around it.
I'm glad I had a good Fourth this year. I'll need these memories to tide me over in the long weeks until Labor Day.
I've always found it odd that August is the one month of the year without a holiday. It almost seems unfair. January has New Year's and MLK Jr. Day; February has Valentine's; March has St. Patrick's Day; April has Easter; May has Mother's Day and Memorial Day; June has Father's Day; July has the Fourth; September has Labor Day; October has Halloween; November has Veterans Day and Thanksgiving; and December has Christmas.
But August: Nothing.
Sure, there are a couple of bizarre, trivial holidays in August, such as "Respect for Parents Day" (Aug. 1), "National Underwear Day" (Aug. 5) and "National Waffle Day" (Aug. 24). But none of these seem like the proper occasion to shoot off fireworks, exchange gifts or gorge ourselves on turkey.
I've often thought that we ought to celebrate New Year's in August. After all, for many families, the annual cycle does not begin in January, but in August, with the start of the school year. Besides that, we've already got enough holidays in the weeks from late November to early January. But it's too early to even contemplate anything having to do with the start of the school year and the end of summer, so we'll end that discussion right now.
Back to the Fourth of July — it's always been one of my favorite holidays. Anytime you can put together warm afternoons, family get-togethers and blowing stuff up, you've got a winner.
I enjoyed my night at the Sportsplex Sunday watching Blytheville's city fireworks display. It was a good show, and I tip my hat to the organizers. The highlight, I think, was simply seeing the people in lawn chairs and on blankets, coming together to celebrate their nation's birthday. A few kids were playing with sparklers. Some boys were playing a pick-up game of football. One girl had a hula-hoop that would light up when spun around. It was a slice of Americana right here in Blytheville.
My only complaint on the evening was the constant passing of motorists — with their bright headlights — into and out of the area throughout the entire fireworks show. Perhaps the entrance to the parking lot ought to be shut down once the fireworks begin. Something to think about for next year.
If I were to rank my favorite holidays, the Fourth of July would be near the top.
Christmas is clearly the No. 1 pick. In spite of the chaos and hassle that sometimes drives me nuts, it's still one of my favorite times of the year — from the music, to the gifts, to the excitement of Christmas morning.
Halloween used to be near the top, but it's really more of a night for kids than anything else. I do, however, enjoy stealing any Sweet Tarts or Nerds candy my children are lucky enough to procure.
As I'm not a huge fan of turkey, Thanksgiving has always been just "OK." It's always nice to see family, though.
The egg hunt at Easter is a good time, as is the decoration of said eggs in anticipation. The only problem is figuring out what to do with a bunch of hard-boiled eggs after the fact.
New Year's was more fun back when I was young enough to stay up until midnight. I still enjoy the Rose Parade and watching football games, though.
And as a dad, I naturally appreciate Father's Day.
So as I think about it, I'd have to say that Independence Day comes in at a strong No. 2. It's a great holiday, both in the history that it celebrates and in the modern rituals that have been created around it.
I'm glad I had a good Fourth this year. I'll need these memories to tide me over in the long weeks until Labor Day.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Heat, hills make for a tough run
In retrospect, perhaps last Saturday wasn't the best day to set out to run 6.2 miles through a hilly neighborhood in Bartlett, Tenn.
But that's the day that was scheduled for the UPS Ultimate 10K run, so that's where I was Saturday morning, along with 290 other foolhardy souls.
Overall, it went well. I finished, which was my one and only real goal for the race. Since I've started doing some running these past few years, my motto when it comes to races is that's it's better to finish dead last, than not to finish; and it's better not to finish than not to try.
That said, I was satisfied with my overall performance. My time was pretty much right on target, and my place was in the middle of the pack, which is where I generally belong.
It was more than a bit on the toasty side, however. Luckily, there were water stops located at several points along the route, as well as one stand that was simply handing out wet, ice-cold rags, which offered a little bit of relief.
The course snaked its way through the upscale Davies Plantation subdivision, and many of the homeowners along the route had set up their sprinklers along the roadside, aiming the water into the roadway. You could always tell when there was a sprinkler up ahead, because the runners would cross to that side of the road to run through the refreshing mist.
It was also hillier than I was used to. I'd done my share of training over the past few months, but it's hard to simulate rolling hills here on the flatlands of the Delta. Perhaps next time I'll need to run up and down the levee a few times to get myself better prepared.
I think my favorite part about a road race like this one is the people. In this case, there were hundreds of people joined together in the same recreational pursuit. From a tight pack that crowds the starting line, the runners soon spread out, but there are always others nearby. There's always someone running the hills with you. There's always someone burning up with you. There's always someone struggling to keep on going with you. And there's always everyone back at the finish line to celebrate in the accomplishment with you. Though I didn't know another soul in the race, there was a camaraderie to be treasured.
My running hobby started a few years ago when I simply got tired of wasting away on the couch. I still remember my first run — I got about four houses up the street before I felt like I was going to die. But I stuck with it, and to date, I've run three 5Ks and one 10K. I'm sort of in the midst of an informal four-year plan, that began last year with the 5K, continuing this year with the 10K. If I keep up with it, next year could be a half-marathon, with the big enchilada — a full marathon — coming the year after that.
But I've got time to worry about all that later. For now, I'm just going to spend the next few days enjoying my latest accomplishment — and recovering from it. But I'm sure I'll enter at least a couple of more 5Ks before the year is out — they're too much fun to stay away.
One of those 5Ks will likely be the United Way Chili Cookoff 5K Run/Walk set to be held Oct. 16 here in Blytheville. In it's inaugural year in 2009, several dozen fun- and fitness-loving souls braved the chilly morning to take part, and had a good time. It's a great opportunity for anyone interested in joining with a few friends and neighbors in pursuit of physical fitness, whether you want to walk it or run it.
If nothing else, at least by mid-October, we won't have to be worrying about the heat index anymore.
But that's the day that was scheduled for the UPS Ultimate 10K run, so that's where I was Saturday morning, along with 290 other foolhardy souls.
Overall, it went well. I finished, which was my one and only real goal for the race. Since I've started doing some running these past few years, my motto when it comes to races is that's it's better to finish dead last, than not to finish; and it's better not to finish than not to try.
That said, I was satisfied with my overall performance. My time was pretty much right on target, and my place was in the middle of the pack, which is where I generally belong.
It was more than a bit on the toasty side, however. Luckily, there were water stops located at several points along the route, as well as one stand that was simply handing out wet, ice-cold rags, which offered a little bit of relief.
The course snaked its way through the upscale Davies Plantation subdivision, and many of the homeowners along the route had set up their sprinklers along the roadside, aiming the water into the roadway. You could always tell when there was a sprinkler up ahead, because the runners would cross to that side of the road to run through the refreshing mist.
It was also hillier than I was used to. I'd done my share of training over the past few months, but it's hard to simulate rolling hills here on the flatlands of the Delta. Perhaps next time I'll need to run up and down the levee a few times to get myself better prepared.
I think my favorite part about a road race like this one is the people. In this case, there were hundreds of people joined together in the same recreational pursuit. From a tight pack that crowds the starting line, the runners soon spread out, but there are always others nearby. There's always someone running the hills with you. There's always someone burning up with you. There's always someone struggling to keep on going with you. And there's always everyone back at the finish line to celebrate in the accomplishment with you. Though I didn't know another soul in the race, there was a camaraderie to be treasured.
My running hobby started a few years ago when I simply got tired of wasting away on the couch. I still remember my first run — I got about four houses up the street before I felt like I was going to die. But I stuck with it, and to date, I've run three 5Ks and one 10K. I'm sort of in the midst of an informal four-year plan, that began last year with the 5K, continuing this year with the 10K. If I keep up with it, next year could be a half-marathon, with the big enchilada — a full marathon — coming the year after that.
But I've got time to worry about all that later. For now, I'm just going to spend the next few days enjoying my latest accomplishment — and recovering from it. But I'm sure I'll enter at least a couple of more 5Ks before the year is out — they're too much fun to stay away.
One of those 5Ks will likely be the United Way Chili Cookoff 5K Run/Walk set to be held Oct. 16 here in Blytheville. In it's inaugural year in 2009, several dozen fun- and fitness-loving souls braved the chilly morning to take part, and had a good time. It's a great opportunity for anyone interested in joining with a few friends and neighbors in pursuit of physical fitness, whether you want to walk it or run it.
If nothing else, at least by mid-October, we won't have to be worrying about the heat index anymore.
Monday, June 28, 2010
I feel the need, the need for ... movie quotes
Upon returning from an air show in Cape Girardeau, Mo., over the weekend, my brother-in-law, Tony, commented on the experience via a Facebook posting.
"Went to the air show for a little bit and now I can't stop quoting 'Top Gun' for some reason," he wrote.
Well, given an opening like that, I was more than happy to oblige.
"Your ego's writing checks your body can't cash," I retorted in the comments section, quoting one of my favorite lines from the movie. This of course set off a "Top Gun" quote-off, that went on for several hours.
"Turn and burn," Tony shot back.
"That's a negative, Ghost Rider. The pattern is full," I added.
"It's time to buzz the tower," Tony threw in.
"Slider ... you stink," was added by someone named John Long.
"Crash and burn, eh Mav?" was my last response.
It was good fun, and it proved two pretty obvious things:
The first is that we are huge geeks. But I think everyone who knows us pretty much already knew that.
The second, is that "Top Gun" is clearly among the greatest movies of all time.
Now sure, snobbish critics with their noses in the air will almost never list "Top Gun" among the cinematic masterpieces of the modern era. They'll say it's predictable and formulaic — that its dialogue is campy. They'll say that the romantic scenes are laughably bad.
And they're probably right.
But "Top Gun" is still a great movie for the response it elicits; namely, grown men quoting lines back and forth on Facebook for several hours on a Sunday afternoon. That's something you'll never get from so-called greats like "Lawrence of Arabia" or "Schindler's List."
Sometimes, when ranking the greatest movies of all time, folks rely too much on vague ideas like "plot" or "character development" or "cinematography." But give me a good quotable movie, and I'm happy almost 100 percent of the time.
This got me thinking of other movies that rank among the all-time greats, at least in terms of being ripe for Facebook quote-offs. Here are some that I came up with:
— "Office Space." Bored at work? Try starting a conversation about "TPS reports."
— "The Princess Bride." Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
— "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Ask a buddy to cut down the largest tree in the forest with a herring, and he will know what to do. Just hope he doesn't say "ni" at you.
— "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure." Post a picture of a Circle K convenience store on Facebook with the caption, "strange things are afoot at the Circle K," and you are sure to generate at least three or four "likes." (And at least one person who will comment, "what am I missing?")
— "Airplane." From Peter Graves' "Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?" to Barbara Billingsley's "I speak jive;" surely, this is the most quotable movie of all time. (Don't call me "Shirley.")
This isn't to say that a movie must be highly quotable in order to be great. There will always be a place for heartwarming tales, buddy flicks, action-adventures and even smartly done romantic comedies. And it's always nice to watch movies that are visually stunning, or compelling in the emotions they evoke.
But there is a special place in the annals of moviedom for films that offer nothing more than ample lines for fans to memorize and quote verbatim at the drop of the hat. It takes a special movie to achieve that. And movies that do deserve to be called great.
"Went to the air show for a little bit and now I can't stop quoting 'Top Gun' for some reason," he wrote.
Well, given an opening like that, I was more than happy to oblige.
"Your ego's writing checks your body can't cash," I retorted in the comments section, quoting one of my favorite lines from the movie. This of course set off a "Top Gun" quote-off, that went on for several hours.
"Turn and burn," Tony shot back.
"That's a negative, Ghost Rider. The pattern is full," I added.
"It's time to buzz the tower," Tony threw in.
"Slider ... you stink," was added by someone named John Long.
"Crash and burn, eh Mav?" was my last response.
It was good fun, and it proved two pretty obvious things:
The first is that we are huge geeks. But I think everyone who knows us pretty much already knew that.
The second, is that "Top Gun" is clearly among the greatest movies of all time.
Now sure, snobbish critics with their noses in the air will almost never list "Top Gun" among the cinematic masterpieces of the modern era. They'll say it's predictable and formulaic — that its dialogue is campy. They'll say that the romantic scenes are laughably bad.
And they're probably right.
But "Top Gun" is still a great movie for the response it elicits; namely, grown men quoting lines back and forth on Facebook for several hours on a Sunday afternoon. That's something you'll never get from so-called greats like "Lawrence of Arabia" or "Schindler's List."
Sometimes, when ranking the greatest movies of all time, folks rely too much on vague ideas like "plot" or "character development" or "cinematography." But give me a good quotable movie, and I'm happy almost 100 percent of the time.
This got me thinking of other movies that rank among the all-time greats, at least in terms of being ripe for Facebook quote-offs. Here are some that I came up with:
— "Office Space." Bored at work? Try starting a conversation about "TPS reports."
— "The Princess Bride." Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
— "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Ask a buddy to cut down the largest tree in the forest with a herring, and he will know what to do. Just hope he doesn't say "ni" at you.
— "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure." Post a picture of a Circle K convenience store on Facebook with the caption, "strange things are afoot at the Circle K," and you are sure to generate at least three or four "likes." (And at least one person who will comment, "what am I missing?")
— "Airplane." From Peter Graves' "Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?" to Barbara Billingsley's "I speak jive;" surely, this is the most quotable movie of all time. (Don't call me "Shirley.")
This isn't to say that a movie must be highly quotable in order to be great. There will always be a place for heartwarming tales, buddy flicks, action-adventures and even smartly done romantic comedies. And it's always nice to watch movies that are visually stunning, or compelling in the emotions they evoke.
But there is a special place in the annals of moviedom for films that offer nothing more than ample lines for fans to memorize and quote verbatim at the drop of the hat. It takes a special movie to achieve that. And movies that do deserve to be called great.
Who is the ideal candidate for mayor?
With filing coming up in a couple of months for the local municipal elections, and with open races anticipated for the Blytheville and Gosnell mayoral positions, it's worth a look at the type of qualities needed in the ideal mayor.
In the coming weeks, topics such as road conditions, police protection, job creation, grant applications and recreational facilities are sure to dominate the discussion when it comes to picking a new mayor. And well they should. But the success any candidate will have tackling those issues will be directly related to the skills and experience he or she brings to the table.
So what skills should mayoral candidates bring to the table? Here's a few I would like to see:
— The ideal mayor should have experience in a government setting. Whether it's a city council, a school board or a state legislature, government doesn't always work like the real world. There's a host of regulations and red tape, and there's almost always a political component to everything you do. A mayor's success will be linked to his or her ability to understand these intricacies.
— The ideal mayor should have experience in the private sector. Running a city is a lot like running a business. There's income and expenses that must be balanced. There's personnel issues that must be properly handled. There are deadlines and commitments that must be met. Any candidate who has worked in the private sector with any degree of success has a leg up on his or her rivals.
— The ideal mayor should be smart. One need not necessarily be a rocket scientist or a Nobel laureate, but a mayor's got to have some street smarts and a lot of common sense. He or she must be able to process information and make logical decisions. Citizens deserve to have the best and brightest the community has to offer serving in leadership positions — mayors should never be likable folks who just couldn't make it in the "real world."
— The ideal mayor must be a uniter. We live in a diverse community. We are black. We are white. We are rich. We are poor. We are old. We are young. We are of all levels of education. We need a mayor who can connect with everyone and build strong coalitions. The various candidates considered to be candidates for mayor all have their own constituencies which will follow them loyally. But that's not enough. To be a successful mayor, one must be able to reach out to different groups of citizens, and unite them behind a common cause.
— The ideal mayor must be a good ambassador for the community. Whoever is elected will be called upon to represent the city in any of a number of public settings. Sometimes the only impression an outsider to the community will get will be from the mayor. We need someone who will represent the community well.
— The ideal mayor must be honest. It sounds like a no-brainer, but anyone who has followed the news knows that many communities have struggled with this. The mayor must be absolutely steadfast in following the law, and in conducting city business in an open and ethical manner. The needs of the citizenry must outweigh the seduction of cronyism.
— The ideal mayor must know the community. One need not be a lifelong resident, but anyone running for mayor ought to have lived here long enough to know the Rotary Club from the Boys and Girls Club. They've got to have an understanding of the area's history — its successes, and its failures. After all, those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it.
— The ideal candidate will have spent part of his or her adult life living outside Mississippi County. Seeing how different communities have operated in different places can provide a mayor invaluable perspective in finding new approaches to old problems.
— The ideal mayor will be a good organizer. He or she must be able to effectively maintain the vast amount of information needed to keep the city running. We need a mayor who can keep the i's dotted and the t's crossed. The mayor must be able to delegate authority.
— The ideal mayor will be a visionary. It's not enough to know where we've been or where we are. The mayor must be someone who can see where we need to go — and figure out a way to get there.
Do any of the candidates running for mayor meet all these qualities? Probably not. But some of the candidates possess some of these characteristics. The trick for voters will be determining which candidates bring the most to the table, and making the informed pick on election day.
In the coming weeks, topics such as road conditions, police protection, job creation, grant applications and recreational facilities are sure to dominate the discussion when it comes to picking a new mayor. And well they should. But the success any candidate will have tackling those issues will be directly related to the skills and experience he or she brings to the table.
So what skills should mayoral candidates bring to the table? Here's a few I would like to see:
— The ideal mayor should have experience in a government setting. Whether it's a city council, a school board or a state legislature, government doesn't always work like the real world. There's a host of regulations and red tape, and there's almost always a political component to everything you do. A mayor's success will be linked to his or her ability to understand these intricacies.
— The ideal mayor should have experience in the private sector. Running a city is a lot like running a business. There's income and expenses that must be balanced. There's personnel issues that must be properly handled. There are deadlines and commitments that must be met. Any candidate who has worked in the private sector with any degree of success has a leg up on his or her rivals.
— The ideal mayor should be smart. One need not necessarily be a rocket scientist or a Nobel laureate, but a mayor's got to have some street smarts and a lot of common sense. He or she must be able to process information and make logical decisions. Citizens deserve to have the best and brightest the community has to offer serving in leadership positions — mayors should never be likable folks who just couldn't make it in the "real world."
— The ideal mayor must be a uniter. We live in a diverse community. We are black. We are white. We are rich. We are poor. We are old. We are young. We are of all levels of education. We need a mayor who can connect with everyone and build strong coalitions. The various candidates considered to be candidates for mayor all have their own constituencies which will follow them loyally. But that's not enough. To be a successful mayor, one must be able to reach out to different groups of citizens, and unite them behind a common cause.
— The ideal mayor must be a good ambassador for the community. Whoever is elected will be called upon to represent the city in any of a number of public settings. Sometimes the only impression an outsider to the community will get will be from the mayor. We need someone who will represent the community well.
— The ideal mayor must be honest. It sounds like a no-brainer, but anyone who has followed the news knows that many communities have struggled with this. The mayor must be absolutely steadfast in following the law, and in conducting city business in an open and ethical manner. The needs of the citizenry must outweigh the seduction of cronyism.
— The ideal mayor must know the community. One need not be a lifelong resident, but anyone running for mayor ought to have lived here long enough to know the Rotary Club from the Boys and Girls Club. They've got to have an understanding of the area's history — its successes, and its failures. After all, those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it.
— The ideal candidate will have spent part of his or her adult life living outside Mississippi County. Seeing how different communities have operated in different places can provide a mayor invaluable perspective in finding new approaches to old problems.
— The ideal mayor will be a good organizer. He or she must be able to effectively maintain the vast amount of information needed to keep the city running. We need a mayor who can keep the i's dotted and the t's crossed. The mayor must be able to delegate authority.
— The ideal mayor will be a visionary. It's not enough to know where we've been or where we are. The mayor must be someone who can see where we need to go — and figure out a way to get there.
Do any of the candidates running for mayor meet all these qualities? Probably not. But some of the candidates possess some of these characteristics. The trick for voters will be determining which candidates bring the most to the table, and making the informed pick on election day.
Is county sales tax building prosperity?
When it comes to the county's half-cent sales tax for economic development — slated to go before voters for renewal on Aug. 10 — there are two absolute certainties.
First, the tax has been a huge success at creating new jobs in Mississippi County. From Roll Coater, to Aviation Repair Technologies, to Lowe's, to Beckmann Volmer, there are thousands of jobs available in Mississippi County that can be traced directly the the existence of the economic development sales tax. Those jobs came both via new industry, as well as through expansion of existing industry.
Second, it is absolutely vital that the county remain aggressive in its pursuit of economic development. No county can afford to rest on its laurels, satisfied with what it already has. This is especially true in counties like ours, where poverty and joblessness have long be a problem.
That said, I think it's worth a look at the big picture before automatically renewing the sales tax.
At the end of the day, the purpose of this sales tax — or any tax, really — is to promote the prosperity of the community. And I think it's important to ask whether or not the prosperity of Mississippi County has improved since the tax was implemented in 2003.
There are any of a number of ways to measure prosperity, and none of them are perfect. One way is with unemployment figures. A year or so before the economic development tax as implemented, the county's unemployment rate topped 15 percent, and was the highest in the state. According to the USDA, unemployment the year the tax began was 11.8 percent. That figure dropped as low as 7.1 percent in 2007, before jumping back up to 13.1 percent in 2009, in the midst of the nationwide recession.
Another way to measure prosperity is with population. Where there is prosperity, the population generally goes up. Where prosperity is elusive, the population generally shrinks. Until the 2010 Census is complete, we won't know exactly what the area population is — most of the numbers out there are mere estimates, based on 1990 and 2000 numbers. But it's been assumed by many that communities like Blytheville will have lost residents in the last decade. With new housing development in places like Armorel and Manila, it's possible that the county, as a whole, has held steady or seen marginal growth. But it's hard to know for sure.
A third way to measure prosperity is simply by looking around. It's a subjective measurement, to be sure, but it's hard to drive down East Main in Blytheville these days, seeing the absence of such places as Mazzios, Bonanza, Pizza Inn, Stage, Crossroads and Starbucks — all having closed in the last decade — and not feel like prosperity is lacking.
One of the problems with the economic development sales tax is that many of the jobs being created are not held by people who live in Mississippi County. To some degree, our economic development efforts in Mississippi County are being used to create jobs for people who live in Dyersburg, or Jonesboro, or Kennett, or West Memphis. Indeed, I was once told that the largest employer of Kennett residents was then-Maverick Tube, east of Blytheville.
I don't want to discount the diligent efforts put forth for our county's economic development team. Again, when it comes to job creation, anyone who complains is simply not paying attention.
But I'm not sure that job growth should be the only goal in mind. Efforts also need to be put forth to make Mississippi County a quality place to live. We need good roads, nice parks, quality health care and safe neighborhoods. We need nice places to shop and dine. Somebody needs to show me how our current economic development efforts are leading to those things.
If approved by voters, the economic development sales tax will be in place until 2023. That's a long time. Perhaps before we embark on another 13 years of the same strategy, it would be prudent to take a step back, evaluate our goals, determine the best path forward, and see if there aren't some ways to be even more successful in our economic development efforts.
First, the tax has been a huge success at creating new jobs in Mississippi County. From Roll Coater, to Aviation Repair Technologies, to Lowe's, to Beckmann Volmer, there are thousands of jobs available in Mississippi County that can be traced directly the the existence of the economic development sales tax. Those jobs came both via new industry, as well as through expansion of existing industry.
Second, it is absolutely vital that the county remain aggressive in its pursuit of economic development. No county can afford to rest on its laurels, satisfied with what it already has. This is especially true in counties like ours, where poverty and joblessness have long be a problem.
That said, I think it's worth a look at the big picture before automatically renewing the sales tax.
At the end of the day, the purpose of this sales tax — or any tax, really — is to promote the prosperity of the community. And I think it's important to ask whether or not the prosperity of Mississippi County has improved since the tax was implemented in 2003.
There are any of a number of ways to measure prosperity, and none of them are perfect. One way is with unemployment figures. A year or so before the economic development tax as implemented, the county's unemployment rate topped 15 percent, and was the highest in the state. According to the USDA, unemployment the year the tax began was 11.8 percent. That figure dropped as low as 7.1 percent in 2007, before jumping back up to 13.1 percent in 2009, in the midst of the nationwide recession.
Another way to measure prosperity is with population. Where there is prosperity, the population generally goes up. Where prosperity is elusive, the population generally shrinks. Until the 2010 Census is complete, we won't know exactly what the area population is — most of the numbers out there are mere estimates, based on 1990 and 2000 numbers. But it's been assumed by many that communities like Blytheville will have lost residents in the last decade. With new housing development in places like Armorel and Manila, it's possible that the county, as a whole, has held steady or seen marginal growth. But it's hard to know for sure.
A third way to measure prosperity is simply by looking around. It's a subjective measurement, to be sure, but it's hard to drive down East Main in Blytheville these days, seeing the absence of such places as Mazzios, Bonanza, Pizza Inn, Stage, Crossroads and Starbucks — all having closed in the last decade — and not feel like prosperity is lacking.
One of the problems with the economic development sales tax is that many of the jobs being created are not held by people who live in Mississippi County. To some degree, our economic development efforts in Mississippi County are being used to create jobs for people who live in Dyersburg, or Jonesboro, or Kennett, or West Memphis. Indeed, I was once told that the largest employer of Kennett residents was then-Maverick Tube, east of Blytheville.
I don't want to discount the diligent efforts put forth for our county's economic development team. Again, when it comes to job creation, anyone who complains is simply not paying attention.
But I'm not sure that job growth should be the only goal in mind. Efforts also need to be put forth to make Mississippi County a quality place to live. We need good roads, nice parks, quality health care and safe neighborhoods. We need nice places to shop and dine. Somebody needs to show me how our current economic development efforts are leading to those things.
If approved by voters, the economic development sales tax will be in place until 2023. That's a long time. Perhaps before we embark on another 13 years of the same strategy, it would be prudent to take a step back, evaluate our goals, determine the best path forward, and see if there aren't some ways to be even more successful in our economic development efforts.
Anti-incumbent mood felt locally
The buzz in the national media this political season has been all about the "anti-incumbent" or "anti-establishment" mood among American voters.
Looking at the results of last month's Preferential Primary Election, it looks like that mood is alive and well in Mississippi County.
Among the three most high-profile races — county judge, State Senate and sheriff — there wasn't an incumbent in the field. All three were open races.
All the same, the two candidates most closely associated with the current regime of local leadership were both soundly defeated.
One of those was Barrett Harrison, the current Blytheville mayor who was seeking the District 15 State Senate seat being vacated by Steve Bryles. Harrison lost to retired judge David Burnett. Harrison managed only about 36.4 percent of the vote over the entire district, which includes Mississippi and Poinsett counties. He fared somewhat better in north Mississippi County, but still only managed to secure about 44.7 percent of the votes.
The other candidate shouldering the burden of incumbency last week was John Alan Nelson in the race for county judge. Nelson is a longtime member of the Quorum Court, where he chairs the Finance Committee. During the campaign, he was labeled as the hand-picked successor to retiring County Judge Steve McGuire. In losing to Randy Carney, Nelson's vote totals were similar to Harrison's: He got 38.5 percent of the county vote, and 43.8 percent of the north county vote, Nelson's "home" territory.
With both Harrison and Nelson losing in pretty much every voting precinct in the area, it's pretty easy to conclude that local voters are in the mood for a change in direction.
While the primaries are over, this sentiment could continue to play a major role in this fall's elections, with major mayoral races and a tax referendum headed for the ballot.
With Gosnell Mayor Dick Reams retiring and Blytheville Mayor Barrett Harrison not expected to seek re-election, there will be no true incumbents in the field.
In Blytheville, Councilwoman Carol White and local businessman Tommy Abbott have formally announced their candidacy for mayor. Outgoing Sheriff James Sanders is also on the campaign trail, and school board member Tracey Ritchey has signaled interest in the race.
In Gosnell, meanwhile, city council members Tammy Fulks and Don Marshall, along with police chief Fred Roberts, have thrown their hats into the ring.
It will be interesting to see which, if any, of these candidates come to be seen as the "establishment" candidate, effectively shouldering the burden of incumbency. Neither Harrison nor Reams have publicly indicated any plans to endorse a potential successor, but given the current political climate, such a move might not be the kind of support candidates hope for.
Efforts to extend the county's economic development sales tax could also be affected by the anti-incumbant mood. Quorum Court justices agreed Tuesday to put the issue before voters on Aug. 10. Though the tax has been hugely successful at creating jobs across the county, the prevailing anti-establishment, anti-tax sentiment might give local leaders an added challenge when it comes getting the tax renewed, especially considering the tax passed by only 63 votes when it was originated in 2003.
Of course, predicting local elections is mostly a crapshoot, and there's no telling what will happen in the coming months to influence voters. But there's no doubting that local politics has been a source of high intrigue this year, and that intrigue looks to continue until November.
Looking at the results of last month's Preferential Primary Election, it looks like that mood is alive and well in Mississippi County.
Among the three most high-profile races — county judge, State Senate and sheriff — there wasn't an incumbent in the field. All three were open races.
All the same, the two candidates most closely associated with the current regime of local leadership were both soundly defeated.
One of those was Barrett Harrison, the current Blytheville mayor who was seeking the District 15 State Senate seat being vacated by Steve Bryles. Harrison lost to retired judge David Burnett. Harrison managed only about 36.4 percent of the vote over the entire district, which includes Mississippi and Poinsett counties. He fared somewhat better in north Mississippi County, but still only managed to secure about 44.7 percent of the votes.
The other candidate shouldering the burden of incumbency last week was John Alan Nelson in the race for county judge. Nelson is a longtime member of the Quorum Court, where he chairs the Finance Committee. During the campaign, he was labeled as the hand-picked successor to retiring County Judge Steve McGuire. In losing to Randy Carney, Nelson's vote totals were similar to Harrison's: He got 38.5 percent of the county vote, and 43.8 percent of the north county vote, Nelson's "home" territory.
With both Harrison and Nelson losing in pretty much every voting precinct in the area, it's pretty easy to conclude that local voters are in the mood for a change in direction.
While the primaries are over, this sentiment could continue to play a major role in this fall's elections, with major mayoral races and a tax referendum headed for the ballot.
With Gosnell Mayor Dick Reams retiring and Blytheville Mayor Barrett Harrison not expected to seek re-election, there will be no true incumbents in the field.
In Blytheville, Councilwoman Carol White and local businessman Tommy Abbott have formally announced their candidacy for mayor. Outgoing Sheriff James Sanders is also on the campaign trail, and school board member Tracey Ritchey has signaled interest in the race.
In Gosnell, meanwhile, city council members Tammy Fulks and Don Marshall, along with police chief Fred Roberts, have thrown their hats into the ring.
It will be interesting to see which, if any, of these candidates come to be seen as the "establishment" candidate, effectively shouldering the burden of incumbency. Neither Harrison nor Reams have publicly indicated any plans to endorse a potential successor, but given the current political climate, such a move might not be the kind of support candidates hope for.
Efforts to extend the county's economic development sales tax could also be affected by the anti-incumbant mood. Quorum Court justices agreed Tuesday to put the issue before voters on Aug. 10. Though the tax has been hugely successful at creating jobs across the county, the prevailing anti-establishment, anti-tax sentiment might give local leaders an added challenge when it comes getting the tax renewed, especially considering the tax passed by only 63 votes when it was originated in 2003.
Of course, predicting local elections is mostly a crapshoot, and there's no telling what will happen in the coming months to influence voters. But there's no doubting that local politics has been a source of high intrigue this year, and that intrigue looks to continue until November.
A blitzkrieg of posts
It seems that I've been a bit lax in updating this blog of late.
I will remedy this with a torrent of new postings.
I will remedy this with a torrent of new postings.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Properly fitting pants isn't always enough
I received a phone call from a reader last week, complaining about local young people who apparently were walking in the middle of the street with their baggy pants hanging around their midsections.
Though I'm not sure that a few kids looking like fools with their pants on the ground is a particularly major news story, I generally share the sentiment of the caller. It looks stupid. And when coupled with walking in the middle of the road, as these young people were apparently doing, it's rude and inconsiderate as well.
I was thinking about that caller Friday night while doing some shopping. I was in the lawn and garden section of the store, trying to find the carrot plants my wife sent me in search of. They weren't to be found, but I was doing my diligent best to make sure I hadn't missed anything — and I think it was pretty clear that I was looking intently at the merchandise.
That's when another shopper pushed his cart between me and the shelves, stopping right in front of me to look for what he needed, completely obscuring my view. He has absolutely no consideration for what I was doing. What's interesting is that this shopper was not some young punk, but rather an older, generally respectable-looking gentlemen.
I guess it goes to show that when it comes to rude and inconsiderate behavior, age does not discriminate.
Another example: I was at a local restaurant with an out-of-town professional colleague a couple of years ago, when a citizen took it upon herself to use that time to accost me over an item that had recently run in the paper. Now, in general, I appreciate feedback, both good and bad. And for the record, the woman probably had a reasonable gripe about the item in question. But to make a point of bringing it up in that manner, in that place, took some gall. Surely, such issues could be addressed in a more considerate time and place than when I was attempting to enjoy lunch with a visiting colleague.
And again, this wasn't a young person who "hadn't been taught any better." It was a fully grown adult — an individual who I think is otherwise pretty well-respected around town.
My point is this: We can complain all we want about "these kids today" with their rude behavior and inconsiderate demeanor; but the fact is, we've all got to do a better job of behaving ourselves.
Besides that, the notion of kids behaving "badly" is nothing new. Every generation has had it's share of youthful rebellion, from the 1920s to the 1960s to the 2010s. Nobody is wrong to be turned off by such behavior, mind you. Teens can be loud and obnoxious, to be sure, and you can put my name at the top of the list of people who have been annoyed by such antics.
But spending too much time complaining about "these kids today" is a waste of energy. That energy could be more well-spent in the name of doing something positive. Something like helping a neighbor. Or donating time or money. Or simply making sure we each doing our best to be kind and considerate. That's the kind of thing that will truly make our community — and our world — a better place.
Though I'm not sure that a few kids looking like fools with their pants on the ground is a particularly major news story, I generally share the sentiment of the caller. It looks stupid. And when coupled with walking in the middle of the road, as these young people were apparently doing, it's rude and inconsiderate as well.
I was thinking about that caller Friday night while doing some shopping. I was in the lawn and garden section of the store, trying to find the carrot plants my wife sent me in search of. They weren't to be found, but I was doing my diligent best to make sure I hadn't missed anything — and I think it was pretty clear that I was looking intently at the merchandise.
That's when another shopper pushed his cart between me and the shelves, stopping right in front of me to look for what he needed, completely obscuring my view. He has absolutely no consideration for what I was doing. What's interesting is that this shopper was not some young punk, but rather an older, generally respectable-looking gentlemen.
I guess it goes to show that when it comes to rude and inconsiderate behavior, age does not discriminate.
Another example: I was at a local restaurant with an out-of-town professional colleague a couple of years ago, when a citizen took it upon herself to use that time to accost me over an item that had recently run in the paper. Now, in general, I appreciate feedback, both good and bad. And for the record, the woman probably had a reasonable gripe about the item in question. But to make a point of bringing it up in that manner, in that place, took some gall. Surely, such issues could be addressed in a more considerate time and place than when I was attempting to enjoy lunch with a visiting colleague.
And again, this wasn't a young person who "hadn't been taught any better." It was a fully grown adult — an individual who I think is otherwise pretty well-respected around town.
My point is this: We can complain all we want about "these kids today" with their rude behavior and inconsiderate demeanor; but the fact is, we've all got to do a better job of behaving ourselves.
Besides that, the notion of kids behaving "badly" is nothing new. Every generation has had it's share of youthful rebellion, from the 1920s to the 1960s to the 2010s. Nobody is wrong to be turned off by such behavior, mind you. Teens can be loud and obnoxious, to be sure, and you can put my name at the top of the list of people who have been annoyed by such antics.
But spending too much time complaining about "these kids today" is a waste of energy. That energy could be more well-spent in the name of doing something positive. Something like helping a neighbor. Or donating time or money. Or simply making sure we each doing our best to be kind and considerate. That's the kind of thing that will truly make our community — and our world — a better place.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
How to win my vote
With early voting for the May 18 primary now under way, it's time to get serious about choosing the candidates we plan to vote for.
I plan to take advantage of early voting this year, though in the past I've been a fan of the ritual of voting on the actual day of the election. But the simple fact is that it's far more convenient for me to run over to the Moore Center on Chickasawba to vote early than it will be to get all the way out to my Armorel precinct on Election Day — especially since my kids have ball games at the Aeroplex that night.
I'll probably take a few more days to mull over my options on the voting front. I've got my mind pretty well made up on most of the races, but there's still little bit of uncertainty in a couple of contests.
The good thing about this year's primary is that, for the most part, we've got a good crop of candidates to select from. As far as I can tell, each of the candidates on the campaign trail is a good person, and each wants to make this a better place to live.
I'll consider many factors before I vote — some of what I've learned, some of what I already knew. One thing that will make a big difference for me, though, is the degree to which each candidate seems to want my vote.
I'll admit straight up that any candidate running for office significantly increases the likelihood that they'll get my vote if they've purchased an ad in the Courier News. That may sound self-serving, and it probably is, a little.
But I'm also a strong believer that anyone who runs for public office must do so with a commitment to maintain strong lines of communication with those he or she seeks to serve. That's why I'd expect any serious candidate to have a strong presence in the local media, and specifically, with the only daily newspaper in the county.
It's about more than advertising, to be honest. Some candidates, since announcing their intention to seek office, have worked diligently to build a relationship with this newspaper. I respect that. It says to me that they are candidates who believe in an informed citizenry.
In contrast, other candidates have been complete strangers to the newspaper. I find that troubling. It suggests to me that they have little or no interest in keeping citizens informed. Perhaps they are communicating via other media outlets, which is OK. But when I go to the voting booth, I only have my own experience and observations to draw upon.
Beyond anything that has to do with the newspaper, I'm also more prone to vote for a candidate who has personally asked me for my vote. Like any other citizen, I'd like to have a conduit to those who serve in office. I'd like to think that my concerns are being heard. And there's nothing like a personal appeal to make you think this might happen.
I realize candidates for office have limited resources. They don't have the time to meet with every voter. They might not have the money to purchase a glitzy advertising campaign. But every candidate has at least a little bit of time; and every candidate spends at least a little bit of money.
So what I'm looking for is effort. Not only do I want to see candidates who are smart, honest and able — I want to see candidates who demonstrate that they care about my vote. I want to see candidates who demonstrate a knowledge of the role of the local media and its commitment to keeping citizens informed. I want to see candidates who have put forth the effort to demonstrate they understand what it means to truly serve the people.
That's what's going to make the difference for me when I head to the polls.
I plan to take advantage of early voting this year, though in the past I've been a fan of the ritual of voting on the actual day of the election. But the simple fact is that it's far more convenient for me to run over to the Moore Center on Chickasawba to vote early than it will be to get all the way out to my Armorel precinct on Election Day — especially since my kids have ball games at the Aeroplex that night.
I'll probably take a few more days to mull over my options on the voting front. I've got my mind pretty well made up on most of the races, but there's still little bit of uncertainty in a couple of contests.
The good thing about this year's primary is that, for the most part, we've got a good crop of candidates to select from. As far as I can tell, each of the candidates on the campaign trail is a good person, and each wants to make this a better place to live.
I'll consider many factors before I vote — some of what I've learned, some of what I already knew. One thing that will make a big difference for me, though, is the degree to which each candidate seems to want my vote.
I'll admit straight up that any candidate running for office significantly increases the likelihood that they'll get my vote if they've purchased an ad in the Courier News. That may sound self-serving, and it probably is, a little.
But I'm also a strong believer that anyone who runs for public office must do so with a commitment to maintain strong lines of communication with those he or she seeks to serve. That's why I'd expect any serious candidate to have a strong presence in the local media, and specifically, with the only daily newspaper in the county.
It's about more than advertising, to be honest. Some candidates, since announcing their intention to seek office, have worked diligently to build a relationship with this newspaper. I respect that. It says to me that they are candidates who believe in an informed citizenry.
In contrast, other candidates have been complete strangers to the newspaper. I find that troubling. It suggests to me that they have little or no interest in keeping citizens informed. Perhaps they are communicating via other media outlets, which is OK. But when I go to the voting booth, I only have my own experience and observations to draw upon.
Beyond anything that has to do with the newspaper, I'm also more prone to vote for a candidate who has personally asked me for my vote. Like any other citizen, I'd like to have a conduit to those who serve in office. I'd like to think that my concerns are being heard. And there's nothing like a personal appeal to make you think this might happen.
I realize candidates for office have limited resources. They don't have the time to meet with every voter. They might not have the money to purchase a glitzy advertising campaign. But every candidate has at least a little bit of time; and every candidate spends at least a little bit of money.
So what I'm looking for is effort. Not only do I want to see candidates who are smart, honest and able — I want to see candidates who demonstrate that they care about my vote. I want to see candidates who demonstrate a knowledge of the role of the local media and its commitment to keeping citizens informed. I want to see candidates who have put forth the effort to demonstrate they understand what it means to truly serve the people.
That's what's going to make the difference for me when I head to the polls.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Time to set up camp at Sportsplex
If the Blytheville Baseball/Softball Boosters really want to make some money, they ought to consider putting up some small cabanas or villas around the lakes near the Sportsplex.
I know I'd be interested in buying one. After all, the way it looks, I'll pretty much be living out at the Sportsplex until late June.
With 7-year-old Drew playing Rookie League baseball, and 10-year-old Katie playing 10-and-under softball, we're keeping pretty busy these days. In fact, over the next 45 weekdays, we have games scheduled for 27 of them. And on six of those days, we actually have two games on the calendar.
(Somehow, miraculously, we managed to avoid ever having both kids scheduled to play at the same time for this year. This means you won't find me perched at the back of the bleachers, looking from field to field, attempting to watch two games at the same time.)
When you add in the practices for the various teams, it's not uncommon for us to be at the Sportplex at least four nights a week during baseball season.
And when you factor in the days spent on the soccer pitch during the fall, you can see why we'd be interested in having a place to sleep, relax and maybe cook a small meal in the immediate vicinity of the Sportsplex. No doubt others could benefit as well.
Seriously, though, our family thoroughly enjoys nights at the Sportsplex. It can't be said or written enough what a fantastic facility we have here in Blytheville for our youth and their families to take advantage of. I have had the chance to visit baseball fields in other communities over the past couple of years, and Blytheville's facility is the nicest, and it's not even close.
Though it may sound like I'm complaining about spending so much of my time at the Sportsplex, the truth is, there's not too many places where I'd rather spend a warm Delta evening. Sitting just outside the fence in the lawn chair, drinking a cold soda, with the smell of hot dogs and burgers in the air, listening to parents cheer for their children, seeing the pure joy on a young person's face as he or she crosses home plate — it just doesn't get much better than that.
There's more than baseball and softball to enjoy at the Sportsplex. There are always adults using the nearby walking trail — some running, some strolling, some taking a dog for a walk. Other folks can be seen along the banks of the lake, fishing lines awaiting a bite. Grownups and kids alike can be seen smiling and chatting along the sidewalks, in the bleachers or near the concession stand.
After a hotly-contested exhibition baseball game last week, I saw two players from opposing teams meet up behind the backstop. One patted the other on the back, as if to say, "Good game, buddy." And off they went, no doubt to watch some other friends play, or perhaps to grab some barbecue nachos from the concession stand — the competiveness of their recent contest quickly overtaken by enduring friendship.
Everyone ought to check out a night at the Blytheville ballpark. It's one of those things that will make you feel really good about where you live. There's no doubt that our community has some good things and some bad things going for it, but when it comes to the Youth Sportplex, this is one time where Blytheville got it right.
I know I'd be interested in buying one. After all, the way it looks, I'll pretty much be living out at the Sportsplex until late June.
With 7-year-old Drew playing Rookie League baseball, and 10-year-old Katie playing 10-and-under softball, we're keeping pretty busy these days. In fact, over the next 45 weekdays, we have games scheduled for 27 of them. And on six of those days, we actually have two games on the calendar.
(Somehow, miraculously, we managed to avoid ever having both kids scheduled to play at the same time for this year. This means you won't find me perched at the back of the bleachers, looking from field to field, attempting to watch two games at the same time.)
When you add in the practices for the various teams, it's not uncommon for us to be at the Sportplex at least four nights a week during baseball season.
And when you factor in the days spent on the soccer pitch during the fall, you can see why we'd be interested in having a place to sleep, relax and maybe cook a small meal in the immediate vicinity of the Sportsplex. No doubt others could benefit as well.
Seriously, though, our family thoroughly enjoys nights at the Sportsplex. It can't be said or written enough what a fantastic facility we have here in Blytheville for our youth and their families to take advantage of. I have had the chance to visit baseball fields in other communities over the past couple of years, and Blytheville's facility is the nicest, and it's not even close.
Though it may sound like I'm complaining about spending so much of my time at the Sportsplex, the truth is, there's not too many places where I'd rather spend a warm Delta evening. Sitting just outside the fence in the lawn chair, drinking a cold soda, with the smell of hot dogs and burgers in the air, listening to parents cheer for their children, seeing the pure joy on a young person's face as he or she crosses home plate — it just doesn't get much better than that.
There's more than baseball and softball to enjoy at the Sportsplex. There are always adults using the nearby walking trail — some running, some strolling, some taking a dog for a walk. Other folks can be seen along the banks of the lake, fishing lines awaiting a bite. Grownups and kids alike can be seen smiling and chatting along the sidewalks, in the bleachers or near the concession stand.
After a hotly-contested exhibition baseball game last week, I saw two players from opposing teams meet up behind the backstop. One patted the other on the back, as if to say, "Good game, buddy." And off they went, no doubt to watch some other friends play, or perhaps to grab some barbecue nachos from the concession stand — the competiveness of their recent contest quickly overtaken by enduring friendship.
Everyone ought to check out a night at the Blytheville ballpark. It's one of those things that will make you feel really good about where you live. There's no doubt that our community has some good things and some bad things going for it, but when it comes to the Youth Sportplex, this is one time where Blytheville got it right.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Vigorous campaigns good for voters
With Carol White’s entrance into the Blytheville mayoral race last Friday, it’s safe to say that what was already an interesting political year just got a lot more interesting.
To date, White is the only announced candidate for the position, expected to be vacated by Barrett Harrison, who is running for the Arkansas State Senate. Current Mississippi County Sheriff James Sanders, a former Blytheville city councilman, has also publicly expressed interest in the position. There have been other rumored candidates of interest, and it’s a reasonable assumption that several more names will be thrown into the ring by the time filing opens in August.
And so, in a year which is already seeing vibrant campaigns for county judge, state senator, U.S. congressman, sheriff and justice of the peace, we can look forward to a vibrant Blytheville mayoral race as well.
It’s been 12 years since Blytheville saw an open race for its mayor. In 1998, with the retirement of Joe Gude, four candidates faced off. The slate included Harrison, Gary Hughey, Gene Henton and Lewis Richardson. That race came down to a runoff between Hughey and Harrison. Hughey, who was the administrative assistant to the mayor at the time, was essentially the status quo candidate. Harrison, interestingly enough, was the candidate “for change.”
This time around, it’s White who’s recycling the “change” message. And one thing’s for certain — with White in the race, it’s not likely to be boring. Since her appointment to the City Council last year, White has made a reputation for herself as a rouser of rabbles. Whether she can muster enough rabbles to mount a competitive campaign remains to be seen.
White reminds me a lot of Ross Perot, the former presidential candidate. Perot burst onto the scene back in 1992, and at first glance, came off as the fresh voice of reason — a common-sense guy with the intelligence and know-how to reform Washington. But as time went by, it became apparent that Perot wasn’t exactly playing with a full deck. Nonetheless, he rallied enough support to make a lot of noise in the ’92 campaign, and a little bit more in ’96. It seemed that as time went by, Perot had an increasingly smaller, yet increasingly more devout, group of followers. I could kind of see White following a similar path.
But I’ve always believed that there’s a place in the political process for mavericks and gadflies. Government leaders who always agree with one another are probably not serving the people. So I think it’s good that Carol White is running for mayor. This will be the first time that she’s run for elected office, and it will be useful to see how her ideas, positions and personality fare in the political marketplace.
That’s the same reason it’s good that there’s so many competitive races this year. Citizens of our community deserve a choice. Elections shouldn’t simply be coronations. They should be a chance for citizens to discuss what we want our community to be, where we want our community to go, and then make an intelligent choice for who is going to lead us there.
May there be more interesting candidates throwing their hats in the rings.
———
You can tell it’s an election year by the proliferation of yard signs across the community. So far, it looks like most candidates are sticking to the red-white-and-blue theme. It will be interesting to see if anyone tries to distinguish himself or herself with signs of a different color.
One candidate has distinguished himself with shape — going with a diamond, rather than the traditional rectangle. It has worked well.
Another candidate, meanwhile, has clearly stolen the design for his signs from former presidential candidate John McCain. But I’m going to guess McCain’s not going to be in Mississippi County anytime soon to complain.
I’m not going to say I would ever base my voting decision on the quality of a candidate’s yard signs, but I can tell you that I’ve been turned off a time or two in the past by less-than-professional yard signs. So far this year, however, most of the candidates are looking good.
To date, White is the only announced candidate for the position, expected to be vacated by Barrett Harrison, who is running for the Arkansas State Senate. Current Mississippi County Sheriff James Sanders, a former Blytheville city councilman, has also publicly expressed interest in the position. There have been other rumored candidates of interest, and it’s a reasonable assumption that several more names will be thrown into the ring by the time filing opens in August.
And so, in a year which is already seeing vibrant campaigns for county judge, state senator, U.S. congressman, sheriff and justice of the peace, we can look forward to a vibrant Blytheville mayoral race as well.
It’s been 12 years since Blytheville saw an open race for its mayor. In 1998, with the retirement of Joe Gude, four candidates faced off. The slate included Harrison, Gary Hughey, Gene Henton and Lewis Richardson. That race came down to a runoff between Hughey and Harrison. Hughey, who was the administrative assistant to the mayor at the time, was essentially the status quo candidate. Harrison, interestingly enough, was the candidate “for change.”
This time around, it’s White who’s recycling the “change” message. And one thing’s for certain — with White in the race, it’s not likely to be boring. Since her appointment to the City Council last year, White has made a reputation for herself as a rouser of rabbles. Whether she can muster enough rabbles to mount a competitive campaign remains to be seen.
White reminds me a lot of Ross Perot, the former presidential candidate. Perot burst onto the scene back in 1992, and at first glance, came off as the fresh voice of reason — a common-sense guy with the intelligence and know-how to reform Washington. But as time went by, it became apparent that Perot wasn’t exactly playing with a full deck. Nonetheless, he rallied enough support to make a lot of noise in the ’92 campaign, and a little bit more in ’96. It seemed that as time went by, Perot had an increasingly smaller, yet increasingly more devout, group of followers. I could kind of see White following a similar path.
But I’ve always believed that there’s a place in the political process for mavericks and gadflies. Government leaders who always agree with one another are probably not serving the people. So I think it’s good that Carol White is running for mayor. This will be the first time that she’s run for elected office, and it will be useful to see how her ideas, positions and personality fare in the political marketplace.
That’s the same reason it’s good that there’s so many competitive races this year. Citizens of our community deserve a choice. Elections shouldn’t simply be coronations. They should be a chance for citizens to discuss what we want our community to be, where we want our community to go, and then make an intelligent choice for who is going to lead us there.
May there be more interesting candidates throwing their hats in the rings.
———
You can tell it’s an election year by the proliferation of yard signs across the community. So far, it looks like most candidates are sticking to the red-white-and-blue theme. It will be interesting to see if anyone tries to distinguish himself or herself with signs of a different color.
One candidate has distinguished himself with shape — going with a diamond, rather than the traditional rectangle. It has worked well.
Another candidate, meanwhile, has clearly stolen the design for his signs from former presidential candidate John McCain. But I’m going to guess McCain’s not going to be in Mississippi County anytime soon to complain.
I’m not going to say I would ever base my voting decision on the quality of a candidate’s yard signs, but I can tell you that I’ve been turned off a time or two in the past by less-than-professional yard signs. So far this year, however, most of the candidates are looking good.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The irregularities of modern nomenclature
What year is it?
That's easy, you say. It's 2010.
Indeed it is. But how did you say that year? Did you say, "twenty-ten," or did you say, "Two thousand and ten"?
I hope you said "twenty-ten," as I'm a firm believer that it's time we move past this "two thousand" nonsense that has thus far dominated the new millennium.
That's been one of my biggest pet peeves about the dawn of the 21st century. For hundreds of years, we of Western civilization had a perfectly good way to state the year. We broke it into two parts — the first part, identifying the century; the second part, the year. From almost a thousand years, it's worked perfectly well, providing names of years that were easy to remember and even had a catchy cadence to them.
But all that changed in 2000. Admittedly, saying "twenty hundred" would have been a bit weird. Same goes for "twenty oh-one" or "twenty oh-two."
But we can't keep this up forever. I mean, in 25 years, do we really want to be saying "two thousand and thirty-five," when "twenty thirty-five" rolls off the tongue so much better?
With 2010, we've begun a new decade, and it's a perfectly good time to get back to calling the years what they should be called. "Twenty-ten" can be the start of that new era.
———
Speaking of confusing names for things, the nomenclature of some of our local roads leaves much to be desired.
Take the road that runs around the perimeter of the Arkansas Aeroplex. On the east side, near the water tower, it's called "June Gosnell Drive." But the very same road, when turning into the Aeroplex via the gate across from Otto's is marked "Louisiana Avenue." Yet talk to folks around town, and you'll hear it referred to "Perimeter Road."
So which is it?
I haven't a clue.
Perimeter Road is the most descriptive, but it's boring. Louisiana Avenue is the old Air Force name, but many of those have been changed. June Gosnell Drive has the most character, but it may only refer to the section between the Youth Sportsplex and the hospital.
It would make things a lot simpler if the powers that be picked one modern, interesting name for the entire stretch.
———
For that matter, the powers that be also ought to look at Blytheville's east end for road names. Anyone who lives in Blytheville can tell you that McDonald's and Burger King on are the same road. But guess what? They're not!
According to their addresses, McDonald's is on East Main, but Burger King is on East Highway 18. I think the way it goes is that Main stops at the interstate, and though the city limits continue for several miles, anything east of I-55 is just "Highway 18."
Isn't it about time to update this, and designate this road as Main Street until it leaves the city limits? Perhaps. But then again, I think it would be odd to think of places like Pathway Church or the Hard Hat convenience store as being located on Main Street.
That said, some clarification is needed. After all, the sign marking the interstate exit refers to this road as "Armorel/Huffman Road." While the description is reasonably accurate, I've never once heard anyone call it that in my more than a decade of living in the Blytheville area.
———
Speaking for those who are easily annoyed by trivial nonuniformities, I can say that we clearly need to pay a little more attention to the way we are naming things.
That's easy, you say. It's 2010.
Indeed it is. But how did you say that year? Did you say, "twenty-ten," or did you say, "Two thousand and ten"?
I hope you said "twenty-ten," as I'm a firm believer that it's time we move past this "two thousand" nonsense that has thus far dominated the new millennium.
That's been one of my biggest pet peeves about the dawn of the 21st century. For hundreds of years, we of Western civilization had a perfectly good way to state the year. We broke it into two parts — the first part, identifying the century; the second part, the year. From almost a thousand years, it's worked perfectly well, providing names of years that were easy to remember and even had a catchy cadence to them.
But all that changed in 2000. Admittedly, saying "twenty hundred" would have been a bit weird. Same goes for "twenty oh-one" or "twenty oh-two."
But we can't keep this up forever. I mean, in 25 years, do we really want to be saying "two thousand and thirty-five," when "twenty thirty-five" rolls off the tongue so much better?
With 2010, we've begun a new decade, and it's a perfectly good time to get back to calling the years what they should be called. "Twenty-ten" can be the start of that new era.
———
Speaking of confusing names for things, the nomenclature of some of our local roads leaves much to be desired.
Take the road that runs around the perimeter of the Arkansas Aeroplex. On the east side, near the water tower, it's called "June Gosnell Drive." But the very same road, when turning into the Aeroplex via the gate across from Otto's is marked "Louisiana Avenue." Yet talk to folks around town, and you'll hear it referred to "Perimeter Road."
So which is it?
I haven't a clue.
Perimeter Road is the most descriptive, but it's boring. Louisiana Avenue is the old Air Force name, but many of those have been changed. June Gosnell Drive has the most character, but it may only refer to the section between the Youth Sportsplex and the hospital.
It would make things a lot simpler if the powers that be picked one modern, interesting name for the entire stretch.
———
For that matter, the powers that be also ought to look at Blytheville's east end for road names. Anyone who lives in Blytheville can tell you that McDonald's and Burger King on are the same road. But guess what? They're not!
According to their addresses, McDonald's is on East Main, but Burger King is on East Highway 18. I think the way it goes is that Main stops at the interstate, and though the city limits continue for several miles, anything east of I-55 is just "Highway 18."
Isn't it about time to update this, and designate this road as Main Street until it leaves the city limits? Perhaps. But then again, I think it would be odd to think of places like Pathway Church or the Hard Hat convenience store as being located on Main Street.
That said, some clarification is needed. After all, the sign marking the interstate exit refers to this road as "Armorel/Huffman Road." While the description is reasonably accurate, I've never once heard anyone call it that in my more than a decade of living in the Blytheville area.
———
Speaking for those who are easily annoyed by trivial nonuniformities, I can say that we clearly need to pay a little more attention to the way we are naming things.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Old Man Winter headed for the exit
Is it too early to sound the all-clear on winter 2010?
Probably. March is a volatile month, even here in the mid-South. And there’s a decent chance that Old Man Winter will rear his ugly head at least one more time before he fades into an unpleasant memory.
All the same, it’s a safe bet that the worst of winter is behind us. While the first official day of spring is still 17 days away, meteorological spring began Monday.
And there are other signs of spring. The Blytheville Baseball/Softball Boosters have been signing up kids for this year’s league for the last couple of weeks. And over at the Walmart Supercenter, I spotted stacks of landscaping bricks, soil and fertilizer making an appearance in the parking lot outside the lawn and garden side of the store.
Needless to say, spring is almost here. It’s a welcome time of the year.
I’m not a fan of February. It’s a weird month. It’s got an irregular number of days, and it’s hard to spell (why is there an “r” in the middle of it?). It’s a month without a redeeming value, and any politician who will promise to propose legislation to simply outlaw the month has got my vote.
The worst of winter always seems to come along in February. More cold days. More winter precipitation. More days of school canceled. Face it: February is a mess. I’m happy to see it go.
That said, I’ve tried to be patient this year. Usually by this time, I’ve written two or three “longing for summer” columns. But events in the past year have taught me that it’s best not to rush these things. Time will inevitably pass, and there’s not much sense in hurrying it along. After all, while there are some bad things we’d like to get rid of sooner, there’s also some good things we’d like to hold onto longer.
So that’s how I’ve found contentment this past winter season. I’m not claiming to be a fan of cold winds and slick roads, mind you — I’m just saying I had a pretty strong inkling such things would eventually fade away. And it looks like I might have been right.
I think this time of year — the cusp of spring — is a good time to take stock in what we want to accomplish in the warm months. On my list this year are a number of things. I already have a big family vacation planned — a trip that will include my extended family. I plan to keep running, with a new challenge on my agenda for June. I also to intend to savor every minute I can watching my kids play baseball and softball, no matter how or hot and humid — or windy — it might be.
I think it’s good to make lists like the one above because it’s too easy to let spring (and the summer that follows) slip by without doing all the things you meant to do. When you’re standing on March 3, the months of nice weather look like a vast, endless slate. But just like the winter that may soon be behind us, the coming season won’t last forever. As for me, I want to cherish as much of it as I can.
The latest forecast I’ve seen calls for temperatures close to 60 by this weekend. That’s what I call “spring weather,” and I’m looking forward to getting outside to enjoy some of it. But I’m also realistic. I’ve lived in the central United States long enough to know that the road from winter to spring is a rocky one.
But I’m just happy to be on the road and moving along the way. We’ll get there eventually. Let’s enjoy the ride.
Probably. March is a volatile month, even here in the mid-South. And there’s a decent chance that Old Man Winter will rear his ugly head at least one more time before he fades into an unpleasant memory.
All the same, it’s a safe bet that the worst of winter is behind us. While the first official day of spring is still 17 days away, meteorological spring began Monday.
And there are other signs of spring. The Blytheville Baseball/Softball Boosters have been signing up kids for this year’s league for the last couple of weeks. And over at the Walmart Supercenter, I spotted stacks of landscaping bricks, soil and fertilizer making an appearance in the parking lot outside the lawn and garden side of the store.
Needless to say, spring is almost here. It’s a welcome time of the year.
I’m not a fan of February. It’s a weird month. It’s got an irregular number of days, and it’s hard to spell (why is there an “r” in the middle of it?). It’s a month without a redeeming value, and any politician who will promise to propose legislation to simply outlaw the month has got my vote.
The worst of winter always seems to come along in February. More cold days. More winter precipitation. More days of school canceled. Face it: February is a mess. I’m happy to see it go.
That said, I’ve tried to be patient this year. Usually by this time, I’ve written two or three “longing for summer” columns. But events in the past year have taught me that it’s best not to rush these things. Time will inevitably pass, and there’s not much sense in hurrying it along. After all, while there are some bad things we’d like to get rid of sooner, there’s also some good things we’d like to hold onto longer.
So that’s how I’ve found contentment this past winter season. I’m not claiming to be a fan of cold winds and slick roads, mind you — I’m just saying I had a pretty strong inkling such things would eventually fade away. And it looks like I might have been right.
I think this time of year — the cusp of spring — is a good time to take stock in what we want to accomplish in the warm months. On my list this year are a number of things. I already have a big family vacation planned — a trip that will include my extended family. I plan to keep running, with a new challenge on my agenda for June. I also to intend to savor every minute I can watching my kids play baseball and softball, no matter how or hot and humid — or windy — it might be.
I think it’s good to make lists like the one above because it’s too easy to let spring (and the summer that follows) slip by without doing all the things you meant to do. When you’re standing on March 3, the months of nice weather look like a vast, endless slate. But just like the winter that may soon be behind us, the coming season won’t last forever. As for me, I want to cherish as much of it as I can.
The latest forecast I’ve seen calls for temperatures close to 60 by this weekend. That’s what I call “spring weather,” and I’m looking forward to getting outside to enjoy some of it. But I’m also realistic. I’ve lived in the central United States long enough to know that the road from winter to spring is a rocky one.
But I’m just happy to be on the road and moving along the way. We’ll get there eventually. Let’s enjoy the ride.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
What if the Olympics came to Blytheville?
I enjoy watching the Olympics.
Aside from taking a sudden interest in sports I was otherwise unaware of before — like "short-track speed skating" and "moguls" — one of my favorite parts of any Olympic Games is the opening ceremony.
Host cities usually use the opening ceremony to shine a spotlight on local and national heritage and culture. Beijing did this with great success during the 2008 Summer Games; and other than a faulty hydraulic on an overly complex Olympic cauldron, Vancouver has done the same this go-around.
Of course, Blytheville will never host an Olympic games. The suggestion is obviously ludicrous. All the same, as I watched the opening ceremony last Friday, and learned a few things I didn't know about Canadian culture, it got me thinking about what such a ceremony might look like if Blytheville was, indeed, an Olympic host site. How would an opening ceremony spotlight Blytheville's heritage?
The cynical answer is easy: Throw together a bunch of four-wheelers, some unemployed (and unemployable) workers and people who go absolutely crazy at the sight of a few flakes of snow, and you've pretty much got your show.
But we could probably do at least a little better than that.
An honest attempt at an opening ceremony featuring the heritage of the Blytheville area would, like Vancouver's, have to start with the native American population that once inhabited the area. In our case, they were the mound-builders, who built thriving cities in the area.
The next part, I think, would be about the lumber era, featuring the rise of the area's first real industry — an industry which provided much of the raw material used to rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871.
That could be followed by a section devoted to agriculture, especially cotton. When you have one of the top five cotton-producing counties in the country, you've got to include it in the show.
And, of course, there would be an air base tribute included in the ceremony. I would think this topic would lend itself well to some creative use of aerial special effects.
The final section of our opening ceremony would spotlight the local rise of the steel industry. I'm thinking pyrotechnics could play a big role here.
How it all would come together, I have no idea. I can't begin to match the mind-blowing creative genius that goes into creating the pageantry and grandeur of an Olympic opening ceremony.
But I do think Blytheville's history could provide a interesting backdrop for such a show. When you have a community that has been dominated by such diverse economic forces — lumber, agriculture, military and steel — you've got a pretty unique story to tell.
It's all wishful thinking, of course. Blytheville has about as good of chance as hosting an Olympics as the planet Neptune. The closest remote possibility would be for Memphis to one day host the Games. But given that city's political track record, I won't be holding my breath.
So while Blytheville may never be able to attract mogul skiers and short-track speed skaters, we can at least know that if the Olympics ever did come to town, we would be able to put on a pretty good show.
Aside from taking a sudden interest in sports I was otherwise unaware of before — like "short-track speed skating" and "moguls" — one of my favorite parts of any Olympic Games is the opening ceremony.
Host cities usually use the opening ceremony to shine a spotlight on local and national heritage and culture. Beijing did this with great success during the 2008 Summer Games; and other than a faulty hydraulic on an overly complex Olympic cauldron, Vancouver has done the same this go-around.
Of course, Blytheville will never host an Olympic games. The suggestion is obviously ludicrous. All the same, as I watched the opening ceremony last Friday, and learned a few things I didn't know about Canadian culture, it got me thinking about what such a ceremony might look like if Blytheville was, indeed, an Olympic host site. How would an opening ceremony spotlight Blytheville's heritage?
The cynical answer is easy: Throw together a bunch of four-wheelers, some unemployed (and unemployable) workers and people who go absolutely crazy at the sight of a few flakes of snow, and you've pretty much got your show.
But we could probably do at least a little better than that.
An honest attempt at an opening ceremony featuring the heritage of the Blytheville area would, like Vancouver's, have to start with the native American population that once inhabited the area. In our case, they were the mound-builders, who built thriving cities in the area.
The next part, I think, would be about the lumber era, featuring the rise of the area's first real industry — an industry which provided much of the raw material used to rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871.
That could be followed by a section devoted to agriculture, especially cotton. When you have one of the top five cotton-producing counties in the country, you've got to include it in the show.
And, of course, there would be an air base tribute included in the ceremony. I would think this topic would lend itself well to some creative use of aerial special effects.
The final section of our opening ceremony would spotlight the local rise of the steel industry. I'm thinking pyrotechnics could play a big role here.
How it all would come together, I have no idea. I can't begin to match the mind-blowing creative genius that goes into creating the pageantry and grandeur of an Olympic opening ceremony.
But I do think Blytheville's history could provide a interesting backdrop for such a show. When you have a community that has been dominated by such diverse economic forces — lumber, agriculture, military and steel — you've got a pretty unique story to tell.
It's all wishful thinking, of course. Blytheville has about as good of chance as hosting an Olympics as the planet Neptune. The closest remote possibility would be for Memphis to one day host the Games. But given that city's political track record, I won't be holding my breath.
So while Blytheville may never be able to attract mogul skiers and short-track speed skaters, we can at least know that if the Olympics ever did come to town, we would be able to put on a pretty good show.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Trips to video store not as much fun
Trips to the video rental store used to be a lot more fun.
Back in the day, a trip to the video store produced what seemed to be a bottomless pit of entertainment opportunities. From laugh-out-loud comedies, to high-flying sci-fis, to poignant dramas, to edge-of-your-seat action-adventures, there was always something worth a couple of bucks to keep you and your friends entertained in the living room.
But something, apparently, has changed.
Last Friday night, with both kids away at sleepovers, my wife Jena and I decided it would be a good night to rent a movie. But rather than a smorgasbord of entertainment options at the video store, what we found were slim pickings.
I don't think we're too picky when it comes to movies. We like movies that are fun to watch — nothing too gory, nothing too racy, nothing too "artsy." We prefer to avoid anything too depressing, and we're usually more comfortable when foul language can be kept to a minimum.
And generally speaking, we have the same tastes, the chief difference being that I would be content to watch "The Godfather" for the 79th time, whereas Jena prefers more "uplifting" films. (What's not uplifting about "The Godfather"?)
With these guidelines, you wouldn't think it would be too difficult to find a movie that is appealing to us. But it is.
Consider some of the newest releases at the video store. There's "Halloween II," "X Games 3D: The Movie," and "Final Destination." There's "District 9," "Fame" and something called "Jennifer's Body." Not one of these films was remotely appealing to us. Among the new releases, only "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" looked reasonably interesting, but it would have seemed wrong to get that one with both kids out of the house.
Looking across the range of DVDs to be released in the past year, it's a similar story. The few that looked remotely entertaining, we saw in the theaters. The rest look like a bunch of duds.
It didn't used to be this way. I remember a time, not too long ago, when the new release shelves were packed with movies I was dying to see. Movies like "Batman," "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and "Back to the Future 2." Flicks like "Dead Poets Society," "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" and "Field of Dreams" Heck, even movies like "The Little Mermaid," "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" and "Driving Miss Daisy" were better than sitting around doing nothing on a Friday night.
Believe it or not, each of the movies listed in the previous paragraph came out in a single year — 1989. Back then, there was always something to see. Two decades later, it's a different story.
Or maybe we've just grown out-of-touch when it comes to pop culture. Looking at the hype surrounding this new "Avatar" film, I would say this is probably the case. "Avatar" is setting all kinds of box office records, and just Sunday won the Golden Globe for best drama. I just don't see the appeal. A movie about weird-looking blue things, who can apparently fly? Just looks dumb to me.
Back to Friday night — after wandering the shelves for quite a while, and enlisting the assistance of one of the video store clerks, we settled on "Slumdog Millionaire'" and I must say, it was a top-notch film. Other than some dialects which were initially difficult to understand, it was a fine movie to watch. It's good to know there are still a few movies out there worth watching, even if you have to look long and hard to find them.
Back in the day, a trip to the video store produced what seemed to be a bottomless pit of entertainment opportunities. From laugh-out-loud comedies, to high-flying sci-fis, to poignant dramas, to edge-of-your-seat action-adventures, there was always something worth a couple of bucks to keep you and your friends entertained in the living room.
But something, apparently, has changed.
Last Friday night, with both kids away at sleepovers, my wife Jena and I decided it would be a good night to rent a movie. But rather than a smorgasbord of entertainment options at the video store, what we found were slim pickings.
I don't think we're too picky when it comes to movies. We like movies that are fun to watch — nothing too gory, nothing too racy, nothing too "artsy." We prefer to avoid anything too depressing, and we're usually more comfortable when foul language can be kept to a minimum.
And generally speaking, we have the same tastes, the chief difference being that I would be content to watch "The Godfather" for the 79th time, whereas Jena prefers more "uplifting" films. (What's not uplifting about "The Godfather"?)
With these guidelines, you wouldn't think it would be too difficult to find a movie that is appealing to us. But it is.
Consider some of the newest releases at the video store. There's "Halloween II," "X Games 3D: The Movie," and "Final Destination." There's "District 9," "Fame" and something called "Jennifer's Body." Not one of these films was remotely appealing to us. Among the new releases, only "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" looked reasonably interesting, but it would have seemed wrong to get that one with both kids out of the house.
Looking across the range of DVDs to be released in the past year, it's a similar story. The few that looked remotely entertaining, we saw in the theaters. The rest look like a bunch of duds.
It didn't used to be this way. I remember a time, not too long ago, when the new release shelves were packed with movies I was dying to see. Movies like "Batman," "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and "Back to the Future 2." Flicks like "Dead Poets Society," "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" and "Field of Dreams" Heck, even movies like "The Little Mermaid," "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" and "Driving Miss Daisy" were better than sitting around doing nothing on a Friday night.
Believe it or not, each of the movies listed in the previous paragraph came out in a single year — 1989. Back then, there was always something to see. Two decades later, it's a different story.
Or maybe we've just grown out-of-touch when it comes to pop culture. Looking at the hype surrounding this new "Avatar" film, I would say this is probably the case. "Avatar" is setting all kinds of box office records, and just Sunday won the Golden Globe for best drama. I just don't see the appeal. A movie about weird-looking blue things, who can apparently fly? Just looks dumb to me.
Back to Friday night — after wandering the shelves for quite a while, and enlisting the assistance of one of the video store clerks, we settled on "Slumdog Millionaire'" and I must say, it was a top-notch film. Other than some dialects which were initially difficult to understand, it was a fine movie to watch. It's good to know there are still a few movies out there worth watching, even if you have to look long and hard to find them.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
City could consider new revenue options
If Blytheville Mayor Barrett Harrison and the City Council are looking for ways to shore up the city's budget for 2010, they might turn their attention toward KFC.
Two Indiana cities did just that, getting $7,500 each to allow the fast-food chain to advertise its new "fiery" chicken wings on its city fire hydrants. As of last week, the company was looking for three more cities to participate in the marketing campaign. Perhaps it's worth a phone call.
Actually, something along these lines could help the city generate revenue streams now and well into the future. After all, if KFC is willing to dole out thousands to advertise chicken wings on fire hydrants, surely other companies would be willing to do something similar.
For instance, the arches on Main Street are just screaming out to be painted bright yellow as an advertisement for McDonald's. Surely passing through Blytheville's golden arches would result in increased sales of Big Macs, Quarter-Pounders and Chicken McNuggets. McDonald's would no doubt pay a hefty sum for such a thing.
Starbucks already pulled out of Blytheville, but perhaps they would come back if the city agreed to sell the coffee franchise advertising rights to the water tower on June Gosnell Drive. Just imagine, the tower modified into a giant grande mocha cappacinno. It would be a huge boost to local coffee sales.
Captain D's would no doubt be interested in naming rights to one of the local fishing holes. I can see it now: "The Captain D's Lagoon at Walker Park." If one of the local seafood eateries, like Ed's Catfish, wants in on the action, we can name one of the other fishing holes for them, or just give them the Pemiscot Bayou.
Naming rights for sporting venues have been a big money-maker for years, whether it's "Busch Stadium," "Autozone Park" or "The FedEx Forum." As such, there's obviously money to be made at Blytheville Youth Sportsplex. I could see regional banking institutions getting involved here. We could have the "Southern Bancorp Fields" on the "Bancorp South Sports Complex," all adjacent to the "Southbank Soccer Park." It wouldn't be confusing at all.
And as long as there are streets in Blytheville, there's ways to advertise local companies. (And perhaps a way to get a pothole or two fixed.) Ash Street could become "Nucor Street." Walnut could be "Tenaris Drive." Ruddle could become "Roll Coater Road." Air Base Highway could become "ART Boulevard."
And Main Street, of course, could become "Walmart Way," leading to great conversations, in which a person could go shopping in downtown Blytheville; and when asked by a friend where they went, they could answer, "at Walmart," and be telling the truth.
There's a million ways for Blytheville to make money, provided the city is willing to turn itself into a giant billboard. And why shouldn't it? A few good deals, and the city could fund all the non-profits it wants to.
Two Indiana cities did just that, getting $7,500 each to allow the fast-food chain to advertise its new "fiery" chicken wings on its city fire hydrants. As of last week, the company was looking for three more cities to participate in the marketing campaign. Perhaps it's worth a phone call.
Actually, something along these lines could help the city generate revenue streams now and well into the future. After all, if KFC is willing to dole out thousands to advertise chicken wings on fire hydrants, surely other companies would be willing to do something similar.
For instance, the arches on Main Street are just screaming out to be painted bright yellow as an advertisement for McDonald's. Surely passing through Blytheville's golden arches would result in increased sales of Big Macs, Quarter-Pounders and Chicken McNuggets. McDonald's would no doubt pay a hefty sum for such a thing.
Starbucks already pulled out of Blytheville, but perhaps they would come back if the city agreed to sell the coffee franchise advertising rights to the water tower on June Gosnell Drive. Just imagine, the tower modified into a giant grande mocha cappacinno. It would be a huge boost to local coffee sales.
Captain D's would no doubt be interested in naming rights to one of the local fishing holes. I can see it now: "The Captain D's Lagoon at Walker Park." If one of the local seafood eateries, like Ed's Catfish, wants in on the action, we can name one of the other fishing holes for them, or just give them the Pemiscot Bayou.
Naming rights for sporting venues have been a big money-maker for years, whether it's "Busch Stadium," "Autozone Park" or "The FedEx Forum." As such, there's obviously money to be made at Blytheville Youth Sportsplex. I could see regional banking institutions getting involved here. We could have the "Southern Bancorp Fields" on the "Bancorp South Sports Complex," all adjacent to the "Southbank Soccer Park." It wouldn't be confusing at all.
And as long as there are streets in Blytheville, there's ways to advertise local companies. (And perhaps a way to get a pothole or two fixed.) Ash Street could become "Nucor Street." Walnut could be "Tenaris Drive." Ruddle could become "Roll Coater Road." Air Base Highway could become "ART Boulevard."
And Main Street, of course, could become "Walmart Way," leading to great conversations, in which a person could go shopping in downtown Blytheville; and when asked by a friend where they went, they could answer, "at Walmart," and be telling the truth.
There's a million ways for Blytheville to make money, provided the city is willing to turn itself into a giant billboard. And why shouldn't it? A few good deals, and the city could fund all the non-profits it wants to.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The trends that shaped a decade of local news
With the dawn of a new decade, there's been a lot of looking back going on — people looking back over the past 10 years and trying to put into terms how the world has changed in the past decade.
Having read a number of national "stories of the decade" articles, I started thinking about what local events might be considered in a similar ranking. After all, just last week, the Courier News released its list of the Top 10 Stories of 2009. Why not a ranking of the Top 10 Stories of the decade?
I have a unique perspective on this, I think, in that the last decade exactly coincides with my time as a Blytheville resident. I began my stint here at the Courier News on Jan. 3, 2000, just over 10 years ago. So anything that's happened since I've been here fits within the window of time we are looking at.
But as I ponder the top news stories of the decade, I find myself struggling to pinpoint specific stories that would warrant inclusion on such a list. Instead, what I see are the trends that have dominated the news for the past 10 years. And the two trends which have been the most important over the past decade have been economic development and community development.
By economic development, I mean jobs. Jobs are considered the lifeblood of any community, and with the Blytheville area in a continual battle for prosperity, economic development has supplied a steady stream of news over the past 10 years.
Some of it has been good news. Perhaps topping the list would be the arrival of Denso to Osceola. Other new plants have included the likes of Aviation Repair Technologies, Roll Coater and JMS Processing.
There's been bad news as well. The closure of the Milwaukee Tool plant was one of the biggest. Others have included the shuttering of the Borg Warner plant in Blytheville and the Fruit of the Loom factory in Osceola.
Atlas Tube in Blytheville has been both a good news and a bad news story, with the plant both opening and closing in the past decade.
Central in the economic development story has been the county's sales tax dedicated to pursuing projects that will spur job development. Mississippi County voters approved the tax earlier in the decade, and local officials can tout a long list of successes, both in new plants and expansion of existing ones. At the same time, if the ultimate goal of such a program is community prosperity, reviews of the sales tax might be mixed, with population still stagnant or declining in parts of the county.
By community development, I mean the things that make life better for those who live here. This could include everything from education, to public services, to the retail sector.
This has been another good news/bad news trend.
On the good side, one of the biggest stories in the area of community development in the past decade has been the development of the Youth Sportsplex on the Arkansas Aeroplex. The taxpayer-funded facility includes baseball fields, softball fields, soccer fields and a walking trail. The facility has drawn numerous state and regional tournaments to the area, and hundreds of local children have benefited from its existence. Only the most obtuse of observers would fail to see the benefits of this facility.
The nearby Thunder Bayou Golf Links has likewise drawn people into the community and provided enhanced recreational opportunities for local citizens. But because of its continued cost to the city, the golf course remains a source of controversy.
Leading the way on the bad news side of the community development trend would probably be the ongoing woes of the local hospital system. At the start of the decade, the hospitals were run by Baptist Memorial Hospital. Even then, the hospitals battled an image problem, with many local patients heading out of the county for medical care. As management was passed to Ameris, then to QHR (and the name changed to Great River Medical Center), those problems have only intensified.
Retail development in the past decade has been another good news/bad news situation. Success stories include Lowe's, most of the Porter Commons Shopping Center, Zaxby's, Captain D's, Comfort Inn and Suites and many of the stores in the Porter Commons Shopping Center. There have also been numerous new businesses to open on Main Street in the past decade.
On the flip side, empty store fronts such as Mazzios, Bonanza, Starbucks and Price Chopper, as well as the absence of stores like Stage, Crossroads and Westbrooks are reminders of work that remains to be done.
To look back on the past decade is to see a patchwork of good news and bad news, stories of success and stories of failure. Without a doubt, there are lessons to be learned.
The decade ahead will no doubt be no different. All we can hope for is that at the end of the day, the good news outweighs the bad, and the successes outnumber the failures.
Having read a number of national "stories of the decade" articles, I started thinking about what local events might be considered in a similar ranking. After all, just last week, the Courier News released its list of the Top 10 Stories of 2009. Why not a ranking of the Top 10 Stories of the decade?
I have a unique perspective on this, I think, in that the last decade exactly coincides with my time as a Blytheville resident. I began my stint here at the Courier News on Jan. 3, 2000, just over 10 years ago. So anything that's happened since I've been here fits within the window of time we are looking at.
But as I ponder the top news stories of the decade, I find myself struggling to pinpoint specific stories that would warrant inclusion on such a list. Instead, what I see are the trends that have dominated the news for the past 10 years. And the two trends which have been the most important over the past decade have been economic development and community development.
By economic development, I mean jobs. Jobs are considered the lifeblood of any community, and with the Blytheville area in a continual battle for prosperity, economic development has supplied a steady stream of news over the past 10 years.
Some of it has been good news. Perhaps topping the list would be the arrival of Denso to Osceola. Other new plants have included the likes of Aviation Repair Technologies, Roll Coater and JMS Processing.
There's been bad news as well. The closure of the Milwaukee Tool plant was one of the biggest. Others have included the shuttering of the Borg Warner plant in Blytheville and the Fruit of the Loom factory in Osceola.
Atlas Tube in Blytheville has been both a good news and a bad news story, with the plant both opening and closing in the past decade.
Central in the economic development story has been the county's sales tax dedicated to pursuing projects that will spur job development. Mississippi County voters approved the tax earlier in the decade, and local officials can tout a long list of successes, both in new plants and expansion of existing ones. At the same time, if the ultimate goal of such a program is community prosperity, reviews of the sales tax might be mixed, with population still stagnant or declining in parts of the county.
By community development, I mean the things that make life better for those who live here. This could include everything from education, to public services, to the retail sector.
This has been another good news/bad news trend.
On the good side, one of the biggest stories in the area of community development in the past decade has been the development of the Youth Sportsplex on the Arkansas Aeroplex. The taxpayer-funded facility includes baseball fields, softball fields, soccer fields and a walking trail. The facility has drawn numerous state and regional tournaments to the area, and hundreds of local children have benefited from its existence. Only the most obtuse of observers would fail to see the benefits of this facility.
The nearby Thunder Bayou Golf Links has likewise drawn people into the community and provided enhanced recreational opportunities for local citizens. But because of its continued cost to the city, the golf course remains a source of controversy.
Leading the way on the bad news side of the community development trend would probably be the ongoing woes of the local hospital system. At the start of the decade, the hospitals were run by Baptist Memorial Hospital. Even then, the hospitals battled an image problem, with many local patients heading out of the county for medical care. As management was passed to Ameris, then to QHR (and the name changed to Great River Medical Center), those problems have only intensified.
Retail development in the past decade has been another good news/bad news situation. Success stories include Lowe's, most of the Porter Commons Shopping Center, Zaxby's, Captain D's, Comfort Inn and Suites and many of the stores in the Porter Commons Shopping Center. There have also been numerous new businesses to open on Main Street in the past decade.
On the flip side, empty store fronts such as Mazzios, Bonanza, Starbucks and Price Chopper, as well as the absence of stores like Stage, Crossroads and Westbrooks are reminders of work that remains to be done.
To look back on the past decade is to see a patchwork of good news and bad news, stories of success and stories of failure. Without a doubt, there are lessons to be learned.
The decade ahead will no doubt be no different. All we can hope for is that at the end of the day, the good news outweighs the bad, and the successes outnumber the failures.
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